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Fund helps Gibson repair life after year in jail
By Lynn Hotaling
An Asheville woman who spent a year in Jackson County’s jail before being acquitted of second-degree murder charges is making a new life for herself.
Michelle Gibson, who was released from jail after a jury returned not guilty verdicts on charges of murder and child abuse in connection with the death of her 8-year-old son, has been able to make a fresh start thanks to a fund created to help her get back on her feet.
Sylva author Sue Ellen Bridgers, who led the Jackson County effort to support Gibson financially, said the former defendant now has an apartment and a car and is doing “fairly well.”
Michelle Gibson, second from right, who was acquitted of second-degree murder charges in May after spending a year in Jackson County’s jail, was in Sylva Monday. A local fund was established after her trial to help the former defendant put her life back together. With Gibson are, from left, Sue Ellen Bridgers, Dottie Hedden and Helen Tugwell.
Gibson is seeking part-time work because she is not yet ready to tackle the long shifts she once worked as a certified nurse’s aide, Bridgers said. Gibson does plan to return to her former career and also has a long-term goal of becoming a child care advocate, Bridgers said. In addition, Bridgers said Gibson hopes to see a child care center built that would bear her late son’s name.
“She’d like to see a ‘Devin Miles Gibson Child Care Center’ become a reality in order that her son’s life and death could become a catalyst of good for other children,” Bridgers said.
After Gibson’s acquittal, area residents contributed some $8,000 to a the “Michelle Gibson Recovery Fund,” which was set up at First Charter Bank. Bridgers indicated that First Charter’s Josh Brant and Sharon Aust were particularly helpful in that effort, and said donations are still being accepted.
A fund-raiser in Asheville netted enough money to purchase Gibson’s car, and the locally-generated funds are being used to fund necessary dental work, furniture and renovations and repairs to Gibson’s apartment, Bridgers said.
“Massie Furniture and Dodie’s Auction have been generous with contributions as have many individuals,” Bridgers said.
Gibson has expressed her appreciation for the efforts made on her behalf.
“I am so grateful for the support people in Jackson County have given me.” Gibson said. “I will never get to meet you, but I will always be thankful.”
According to Bridgers, the fund gave people in Jackson County a chance to help out.
“Michelle has a tremendous need,” Bridgers said two months ago. “Her life stopped a year ago. Somehow, it has to start again. So we wanted to do something to give the community an opportunity to support her. It all happened in our community, and she was in our jail.”
Gibson was charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse stemming from her son’s May 22, 2005 death.
Devin died when he was left in Gibson’s Ford Escort while she worked a 16-hour double shift at Mountain Trace Nursing Center. Gibson admitted to leaving the boy in the car, and said she made a bad choice when other child care plans fell through.
Before she was acquitted May 22, Gibson was jailed for a year.
Both Bridgers and Sylva resident Dottie Hedden said they became involved with the case through media accounts. Both had contact with Gibson prior to her trial, and their support for her grew as the case proceeded.
“I was just going to write notes,” Bridgers said. “But then the autopsy report came back, and there was no evidence that she had intended any harm to her child. That’s when I started getting mad. I was just wondering why they wouldn’t change what she was charged with. All they had to do was drop the $100,000 bond she was under – she posed no threat to any other person than herself.”
When the trial started, Bridgers and Hedden made a point to be in the courtroom every day. Once the trial was over, Bridgers said she and Hedden wanted to help Gibson meet her everyday needs.
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