Two other girls who survived the shootings suffered severe head wounds and are likely to have long-term disabilities. One is home while the other remains hospitalized, a spokesman for the Nickel Mines Accountability Committee said Monday.

The families “are dealing with pain and loss, but I’ve heard a number of comments about the remarkable recoveries of the girls,” said Herman Bontrager, spokesman for the nine-member community group that handles the disbursement of the donations. “They have seen more recovery than ... they expected.”

Five classmates of the wounded girls were killed after Charles Carl Roberts IV stormed their one-room schoolhouse in Bart Township. Roberts shot all 10 of the girls before killing himself.

The schoolhouse was razed 10 days later, and classes were moved to a building on a nearby farm.

“It’s essentially the same school,” Bontrager said, “with the same teacher and same group of students — other than the five who were killed, obviously.”

Bontrager sympathized with the students who have returned to school, not far from where five of their classmates were massacred.

“How would like that (absence) staring at you every day?” he asked.

One girl who sustained shoulder, hand and leg injuries is attending school full time, Bontrager said.

Two others with lung, abdominal, facial and leg injuries also are back full time, aside from time away for daily physical therapy treatment, Bontrager said.

“Which is not a lot, but it does disrupt their attendance,” he said.

The three girls back in school are between 8 and 13 years old, Bontrager said.

One girl remains at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and “is recovering more than expected. She has some ability to communicate,” Bontrager said.

Another girl is home but semi-comatose. Those who have visited her told Bontrager she “miraculously survived.”

Several funds were established for the victims’ families, which may eventually face massive medical bills. The money also will be used for counseling services, transportation costs and construction costs for a new school, which is expected to be built in the upcoming months.

For the time being, hospitals have waived the majority of medical costs.

The families “are waiting for these institutions to say you need to start paying,” Bontrager said, “but some (institutions) have indicated they can continue covering expenses.”

Bontrager said $3.2 million has been raised by fundraising programs.

That figure does not include Capital Blue Cross’ pledge of $500,000 for medical expenses. It also does not account for other smaller funds, said Ken Sensenig of Mennonite Central Committee.

MCC and three other agencies with local offices — Anabaptist Foundation, Mennonite Disaster Services and Coatesville Savings Banks — have collected most of the funds being overseen by Nickel Mines Accountability Committee.

Through Monday, Mennonite Disaster Services collected $550,000, according to Sensenig. Its sister agency, MCC, reported $417,000 in donations Monday.

MCC’s Canadian operation has collected more than $75,000 from residents there, Sensenig said.

Last week, Anabaptist Foundation reported $1,426,806 in donations.

The public continues to donate, Sensenig said, mostly by mail.

“It’s a daily occurrence,” he said. “(Donations) crested immediately after (funds were established), but there remains to be a fairly steady stream of contributions.”


Read the complete statement from Nickel Mines Accountability Committee


Brett Hambright’s e-mail address is bhambright@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus