HOLMES BEACH – In 2012, Holmes Beach resident Jamie Kimble was murdered at a Tampa
intersection during an act of domestic violence. She was shot by an ex-boyfriend, who took his own life a short time later.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, Jamie’s parents, Jan and Ron Kimble, dedicated a memorial in her honor at the beach access point at 72nd Street in Holmes Beach. The Kimbles live in Charlotte, N.C. and own a second home in Holmes Beach.
Oct. 19 was Purple Thursday, a national day of action taking place each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On that day, people are encouraged to wear purple as a symbol of domestic violence awareness.
The city-approved memorial features two large rocks with plaques embedded in them, two engraved benches and three painted poles connected by rope. One plaque says, “This beachside oasis is dedicated in loving memory of Holmes Beach resident Jamie Kristine Kimble, a beautiful courageous woman. May her spirit continue to live on to help others avoid the ravages of domestic and dating violence. Love you more, sweet Jamie!”
The other plaque says, “If you or someone you know is being victimized by domestic violence, these resources can help. For warning signs, go to JKFFC.org. 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233. For help without saying a word, text ‘Survivor’ to 69922.”
Inscribed in the benches are the words “Love,” “Resilience,” “Courage,” “Healing,” “Hope” and “Justice.” Placed in front of the large rocks and benches were small rocks painted by part-time Island resident Marilia Clark, who also painted the memorial poles. The rocks contained messages that included “Stop Domestic Violence. Speak Up.” Two ladybug figurines were placed on the benches symbolizing Jamie’s love for ladybugs.
The dozen or so people who attended the ceremony included family members, friends, the detective who worked Jamie’s homicide case, the off-duty police officer who was the last to see her alive and an Indianapolis couple who lost two daughters in the same act of domestic violence.
During his opening remarks, Ron said, “This is a special memorial for Jamie, but it’s for victims everywhere. It’s also for the community at large. This is a special place. Jamie lived at 306 B 72nd Street. She ran on the beach, she laid on the beach and she would enter the beach at this very location.”
Jan mentioned the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage they founded after Jamie’s death and said, “We didn’t want this to happen to any other family – to have to deal with the loss and the grief. Our goal is to see a future without domestic violence.”
Holmes Beach City Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “The Kimble family and our staff succeeded in creating this beautiful and meaningful tribute to their loving daughter Jamie. We are saddened as a city that one of our own could be taken as a victim of domestic violence.”
Char Young, executive director of Hope Family Services, said, “I would like to say their story is unique. The unfortunate reality is, it isn’t.”
Young noted that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody visited the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 12 in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced the expansion of Project Protect into Manatee and Hardee counties. Project Protect provides free doorbell cameras to survivors of domestic violence to help them feel more secure.
Parents’ worst nightmare
Two days before the memorial dedication, Jan and Ron spoke about their only child, her life, her death and the recovery process that followed.
From 2008 to 2011, the Kimble family spent many holidays on Anna Maria Island. In 2017, after Jamie’s death, Jan and Ron bought their Holmes Beach home.
Jamie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After moving from Orlando, she lived in Holmes Beach for six months while working for the Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Consolidated company. She’d just been promoted and was preparing to move to Dallas, Texas.
Three and a half months before her death, Jamie broke up with her longtime boyfriend, Luis Roberson Rodriguez. He’d moved to Kansas City for a job but Jamie wanted to stay with Coca-Cola Consolidated, work in Dallas for a year or two and work her way back to Charlotte.
“They had broken up five, six, seven times before in the six years they were together. He was never physically abusive that we know of but there was a lot of emotional, psychological, mental abuse and jealous rage,” Ron said.
According to Ron, Rodriguez drove from Kansas City to Orlando to retrieve his gun from his parents’ house. He then drove to the Tampa airport and waited for Jamie to return from a Labor Day weekend trip to England.
“He was there in baggage claim waiting for her. He convinced her that he would take her to the hotel in Tampa where she was staying to work her territory the next day,” Ron said.
A short time later, they were both dead.
“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department showed up at our door at midnight and told us our daughter had been killed by her ex-boyfriend. I can’t tell you the amount of grief, horror, shock, sorrow and sadness those words brought,” Ron said.
“It was like it wasn’t happening, like it couldn’t be real,” Jan said.
“Now, our grief is not as much grief now as it is sorrow; and the grief isn’t as raw. While we silently grieve, we celebrate Jamie’s life,” Ron said.
“We miss her every day. We talk about Jamie so people remember her and know her. We share her story to help others who may be in abusive relationships. We want them to realize if Jamie could lose her life, it could happen to you as well,” Jan said.
