Parents' deaths will scar kids, expert says
Man apparently kills wife, self in Aurora while children home
Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News
Published July 25, 2006 at midnight
The sounds of their parents arguing followed by gun blasts are memories that will be forever etched into the minds of three children.
Jason and Tracie Dotson died Friday in an apparent murder-suicide in their south Aurora home.
"The memories sort of get stuck. You really don't forget about it," said Karen Mallah, a psychology professor at the University of Denver.
As the children cope with tragedy, the ex-husband of Tracie Dotson wants to seek custody of all three children to keep them together.
James Anderson, the ex-husband, is the father of the two eldest children. He declined to be interviewed Monday.
"They need to be with their siblings," said family friend Naser Joudeh. "I respect (Anderson) for doing that."
About 2 p.m. Friday, the eldest daughter, 12, called police after hearing three gunshots in their home, in the 14700 block of East Purdue Place.
The girl, her brother, 10, and sister, 4, locked themselves inside the study as they waited for police.
Friends and family members believe Jason Dotson, 41, shot his wife, 39, and shot himself.
Jason Dotson was a former senior deputy Denver district attorney and recently was involved in real estate. Tracie Dotson was a real estate agent.
"They were such in love," Joudeh said. "You don't ever see things like this coming."
Mallah said the children may face traumatic grief after experiencing their parents' death so nearby.
"Losing parents is already an incredible experience," Mallah said. "Losing someone in a real sudden and violent way makes it more difficult and creates traumatic memories."
The children may have flashbacks of the incident and could experience difficulties in their development into adults, Mallah said.
Therapy may be beneficial to the children, and keeping the kids together is the best way to make sure the children will develop properly, Mallah said.
"The fewer things that change, the better," she said.
doligosaf@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2970
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