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Governor Signs Memorial Law for Father Killed during Visitation
In 2008, Steven Watkins went to Jennifer’s his estranged wife’s, home in Ashland to pick up his daughter. This was a court-ordered visit based on a custody agreement that the two had when they divorced. When he went to the door he was met by Jennifer’s grandmother and a gun. Steven was shot to death on that day in November. Currently, 76 year old Shirley Skinner is serving a 55 year prison term for being convicted of the murder.
After the death of their son, Steven’s parents were awarded visitation of their granddaughter by a county judge in Cass County in the fall of 2010. Unfortunately, his parents never really had a chance to capitalize on these rights because their granddaughter was taken out of Illinois. Jennifer Watkins relocated her daughter to Florida and has not allowed the Watkins to exercise their visitation rights. The court has tried to enforce this ruling, even having Jennifer arrested for five months in Florida.
