Now, Here Is A Genuine Tragedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Like the saying goes, girls, you can't make this shit up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Robb and Kelli Phillips were young, in love, and had dreams.  At least, Robb did--of becoming a country and western music star. Wonder if he had ever seen Altman's "Nashville?????"

                                              The couple, from South Carolina and California, respectively, met and fell in love.  Robb had enough talent to ply his trade among local night spots, but he was centered on the Big Time,which meant Opryland USA, Nashville.  In early 1994, they headed there, hoping to fulfill Robb's dream.  It ended their lives.

                                                Now, maybe they weren't the most astute folk out there.  They had previously been embroiled in a scam, where a guy, posing as a record producer, offered Robb a contract and gigs in Mexico.  They ended up returning earlier than planned, because this scam artist held Robb at gunpoint, threatening to kill Robb if he did not cough up four thousand dollars. A tearful Kelli had to have her family wire the money.

                                                 This naivete worked against them, fatally, the night of March 7, 1994.  Having arrived in Nashville, they checked into this shabby motel, that, still living off memories of better days, advertised as "where the stars stay."  They headed out to a night spot, holding a talent contest, and Robb got a chance to perform in Nashville.  Meanwhile, this older guy, plops himself down next to Kelli, eyeing her lasciviously, coming on strong about Robb's talent, and how he, a, record producer, could sign him on.

                                                     If only the inexperienced couple had not believed him. Because this "producer" turned out to be Tom Steeples, by day one of the city's most successful businessmen, owner of his own computer company; by night an avaricious crack addict and sexual predator.  Tom had no ear for Robb's talent, only a desire to get into Kelli's pants.  When he knocked, later that evening, on the couple's motel room door, a nightmare followed.  Robb was tied up, then killed, while Kelli was in the bathroom. When she came out, she saw Robb's bloodied body, and was raped and killed by Steeples.  This scum then went on the lam.  And his wife Tillie Ruth, covers for her husband, simply to ride the gravy train that keeps her in the style to which she is accustomed.  Bitch!!!!!!!!!!!  Even when imprisoned, she sends him a "gift package," containing--guess what?--cocaine!!!!!!!!!!  I am amazed it got to Steeples in prison..

                                                      You know what happened??? This coward, not wanting to face a trial, or a prison term, took that coke and OD'd!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That is right, darlings, he committed suicide!!!!!!!!!!!! On the one hand, good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!  On another, Robb and Kelli's families were denied the justice they deserved.

                                                       At least that rotten Tillie Ruth got imprisoned for her participation, too!!!!!

                                                         I have no doubt the souls of Robb and Kelli  still cry out in the darkness of the Nashville night.  Two nice kids, killed in pursuit of a dream!!!!!!!!!!!  I have seldom heard something so tragic!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           Listen to me, girls!!!!!!!!!!  If some big, strong, thing comes along, with promises of making you a star, DO NOT believe it for a minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It could spell trouble of all sorts--the worst being the kind Robb and Kelli faced--for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            You wanna be a star, darlings?????????  Nothing wrong with that!!!!!!!!!  Do it the way Barbra Streisand did it--

                                                                              BARGE RIGHT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!