Wesley’s Place
June 4, 2008
Police Chief Tim Gray can’t help but think about what happened last August when he passes by the driveway of 1406 South Main Street in Paris. Six-year-old Wesley Mullins was found slain in his grandfather’s garage. His grandfather’s house and two other residences were demolished to make way for Wesley’s Place, a facility dedicated to his memory.
Paris building will honor slain boy
PARIS — Police Chief Tim Gray can’t help but think about what happened last August when he passes by the driveway of 1406 South Main Street.
At a white garage at the end of the driveway, he and investigators found the body of 6-year-old Wesley Mullins.
In the coming year, the garage and the neighboring homes will be replaced with “Wesley’s Place” — a building dedicated to his memory. Demolition started Tuesday on the properties, and the garage will be torn down Wednesday.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t drive by and look down that driveway and see what we saw that first night,” Gray said. “At the time, no one could have ever dreamed that something positive would come out of such a tragedy.”
Construction is expected to begin in July and the building would open in December. The single-story facility will be about 3,000 square feet and have offices for non-profit organizations, a conference room, and reception and library areas.
Lewis “Buck” Ballard is awaiting an October trial on charges of murder and first-degree sodomy in Wesley’s death. The indictment says Wesley was repeatedly struck in the head with a blunt object.
Wesley of Winchester, had been staying with his grandfather, Bobby Mullins. Ballard was Bobby Mullins’ roommate.
An anonymous donor provided money to purchase Bobby Mullins’ former home and neighboring houses at 1408 and 1412 South Main Street.
No one has lived in Bobby Mullins’ home since Wesley’s death, family members said.
The money from the donor also helped establish Wesley’s Place Inc., which is awaiting approval for non-profit status. The organization has two board members, one of them Wesley’s aunt, Pamela Jacques of Lexington, who is Bobby Mullins’ daughter.
“It’s a dream come true that someone could come forth and have such a heart that they could offer such a thing,” Jacques said. “It’s unbelievable. I’m just very grateful.”
Donations for the project are being sought. The building is expected to cost about $325,000. The project has more than $50,000 in community pledges, most in the form of donated services and materials.
Wesley’s godfather, Jeff Mullins, who is also a cousin, said he is grateful for the outpouring of support.
“The whole community should be commended with how they have helped us get through this,” he said.
Send donations to Wesley’s Place
PO Box 5102, Paris, Ky. 40362
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I heard you are looking for volinteres, Well I want to help.
I can do what ever you nedd to bild. My little voice has been telling me to do this,
Thank you Bud
lewis buck ballard needs to hang for what he did, if he did it. But if he didn’t let him go and leave him the hell alone. He’s my father and I’ve never know him to be violent.
I would hope he didn’t do something like that. If he infact did do it then death is punishable by death. Fry him on the 6:00 news.