Orangefield Man Skips Court Appearance, Victim's Family Still Waiting

An Orange County family has been waiting for more than two years to find out what happened to their loved one, and now they'll have to wait even longer.

44-year-old Timothy Michael didn't show up to his court appearence last week and authorities can't find him.

"He knows what he physically did, but he has no idea what he emotionally did," says Julie Doucet, Theresa's daughter.

The emotional scars run deep for relatives of Theresa Doucet Michael.

"I was 7 months pregnant with my son when she died. She died the day before my baby shower," says Doucet.

In October of 2006 Timothy Michael called 911 from his home in Orangefield, claiming his wife of a little more than a year had been accidentally shot.

When first responders arrived at the home they found Theresa dead from a single gunshot wound to the face. Investigators later determined Timothy discharged the gun.

"It's so hard to lose anybody, but under these circumstances, it really starts to consume you," says Kim Williford, a cousin.

Doucet and Williford try to remember Theresa as she appears in pictures, happy and smiling. But everyone in the family has questions.

"I can't tell her, I don't know. We all have the same questions as she does, but she's 8," says Doucet about her daughter.

Family members waited to hear answers about Theresa's death in court last week, but Michael never showed. They believe he evacuated during the hurricane and didn't return.

"Look at his picture, study his face, know who he is. If you run across him, pick up your cell phone and call," says Williford.

They say they haven't forgotten, and they'll continue to wait, keeping Theresa's memory alive.

There is a warrant for Michael's arrest.

If you have any information about him, call the Orange County Sheriff's Office at 883-2612.