Articles from the Norway, Maine Newspaper "The Advertiser Democrat"

Former Oxford Hill student murdered
by E.C. Shanor

OTISFIELD - A murder in Arizona has bereaved a local family. According to Safford, AZ, Police Chief John Griffin, the body of Eve Batchelder, 27, of Safford, AZ, was found Thursday, March 30. Batchelder, the single, working mother of two small children ages five and 18 months, was found under a pile of rocks about 200 feet from what is locally referred to as a "back-country byway."

The victim attended Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School until 1997. She was first missed on Tuesday, March 28. Safford police say that she failed to pick up her children from a sitter in the evening after work at a convenience store. She didn't report for work the next day. Based on the first complaints, the police initiated a search on Tuesday evening.

Chief Griffin said Batchelder had last been seen in the company of an ex-boyfriend, Jason Martinez, 29, also of Safford, who is said to be the father of her 18-month-old daughter. She had broken off the relationship with Martinez several months ago, said the chief.

On Wednesday, Safford police and Graham County deputy sheriffs were tipped off that Martinez's distinctive blue, 1977 Chevrolet pickup truck was parked on a particular back road and it was located just before nightfall. Batchelder's body was recovered nearby on Thursday and sent to the Pima County medical examiner for autopsy. Martinez was arrested on a first-degree murder charge on the same day and remains in custody. According to the Arizona policeman, the case is still under investigation. In Arizona, the chief explained, autopsy results might take 30 to 60 days. He said he could not comment on the cause of her death until the results are in hand, but it is obvious from the facts of her body's discovery that her death was not accidental.

In an event that touched the hearts of many Oxford Hills residents, Batchelder's mother, Valerie Giles, was killed several years ago, in an auto accident on Route 26, in Poland. David Giles Jr., her step-father, died of a coronary while visiting his wife's coworkers at WalMart in Oxford, shortly after her death. Friends said Eve was shaken by the double tragedy and moved to Arizona about that time. Her own two children were born there.

Batchelder's grandparents Charles and Phyllis Pelletier live in Otisfield, as does her uncle, Scott Pelletier. Her brother, Adam Batchelder, of Fairborn, Ohio, told the Advertiser in an e-mail of Batchelder's determined struggle to overcome having left high school before completing her senior year and going on to not only finish her college education, but to rise from clerk to general manager of a retail store.

Memorial services for Batchelder will be held in Safford.

[I emailed this newspaper the entire life story that I wrote for the funeral services and they used it as her obituary.]

Ms. Eve Marie Batchelder

SAFFORD, AZ - Eve Marie Batchelder was born in Globe, AZ to Blaine and Valerie Batchelder on November 17, 1978. After her birth she resided in the Globe area for only a few years until her father relocated his rental business to Safford, AZ. She was first enrolled in elementary school in Thatcher, AZ where she resided for a short time until her family again relocated, this time to the state of Maine. This relocation brought her to the small New England town of Buckfield, where her family lived with her maternal grandparents, Charles and Phyllis and her Uncle Scott. After one year the Batchelder family moved again to the nearby town of Norway. However, she wasn't able to settle in too long in her New England residence because at the age of seven her family returned to Arizona.

Ms. Batchelder enrolled in the Safford school system but her family only stayed for the rest of the school year when they decided to return to Thatcher. She was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) at the age of eight and was able to remain in Thatcher for the next two years.

At age ten her parents divorced and in her mother's care she, along with her younger siblings, returned to be near her mother's family in Maine. Initially living in Buckfield, they eventually moved to Lisbon, where she completed her elementary education. They moved once again to Oxford and she attended Oxford Hills Jr. High School. Although she did move another time the move was to the nearby town of Norway which allowed her to remain at Oxford Hills through Jr. High and all the way to her senior year of high school. She left school just prior to completing her high school education in 1997 and entered the workforce at Gates Fiber in Auburn. She worked alongside her Aunt Paula and her cousin Sara. Soon after, her father returned to Maine to be near his children.

Ms. Batchelder and her father moved in together in a home in Buckfield where she changed occupations from Gates Fiber to being a waitress at the Norway restaurant Bar-Jo's and working at a wood mill in Buckfield. In search of greater opportunity she, her brother Tony, and her father all returned to Safford in 1999.

Upon arriving in Safford, she found employment at the Safford Bowling Alley and soon after also enrolled in Mt. Graham High School to complete her diploma requirements. During this time of fulfilling her education her first child, Collin Michael, was born on September 1, 2000. She graduated with her diploma in 2001 and quickly entered higher education at Eastern Arizona College (EAC) in Thatcher. While attending EAC she changed jobs and began working at the Dailey Stop Convenience Store which is also located in Thatcher. Through her diligent efforts as a college student, she completed and graduated from EAC with a degree in small business management in 2003.

Soon after her graduation from college Ms. Batchelder found employment as the Assistant Manager of the Safford Beverage House. During this time she was once again blessed with the birth of a child. Zoe Jean was born on November 30, 2004. Soon after Zoe's birth, Ms. Batchelder was provided an opportunity to further her employment potential and moved to Tucson, AZ. In Tucson, she was also the Assistant Manager of that local Beverage House. After only a short time she was then promoted to General Manager of the Safford Beverage House and was able to return to the Safford area.

During her life Ms. Batchelder had lived in many places and had touched many lives. Her numerous relocations never limited her ability to always be surrounded by friends. Whether in Arizona or Maine within the many cities and towns she lived, she quickly found her place. She lived her life on the go but with her ever-changing experiences she also found stability. She lived with open and hopeful eyes ever searching for happiness. She eventually found that happiness in her children. She had many doubts as any new mother would but she took that challenge on without hesitation. As a single mother she dedicated her life to giving her best to her children. She completed not only her high school education but also went on to college in order to secure a stable future for her little ones. While working at the Beverage House she was known for her smile and her enjoyable conversation. She was also involved in civic efforts to assist with local charitable organizations. Her heart was unbiased to those around her and her compassion was ever flowing to those in need. She was a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend - she will be greatly missed by many and forgotten by none.

Ms. Batchelder entered her eternal rest with her Father in Heaven on March 29, 2006. She is survived by her son, Collin and her daughter, Zoe; her father, Blaine Batchelder of Sidney, OH; her grandparents, Charles and Phyllis Pelletier of Oxford; her brother, Adam Batchelder of Fairborn, OH; her brother, Tony of Safford, AZ; her sister, Anna of Sieverville, TN; her sister, Amy Martinez of Safford, AZ; her brother, Chad Giles of Safford, AZ and her two nieces, Molly and Neleha Batchelder of Fairborn, OH.

Memorial services were held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mt. Graham Chapel in Safford, AZ on April 5.