Joanie Newman

Bullet holes peppering the unassuming garage in Ottawa speak loudly that this is where Jessie Dale White lived his last hours on Sept. 3, 2008.

Jessie White, 66, of Ottawa, died last Wednesday after a nine-hour standoff with police.

His body was released for burial on Monday, Sept. 8 following a funeral service at Handley Funeral Home in Danville. According to his obituary, Masonic graveside rites were given at Memory Gardens in Madison.

White had barricaded himself in his garage on Wednesday afternoon, threatening to shoot anyone who came near him.

No one is certain of what prompted White to barricade himself, although Boone County Sheriff Rodney Miller confirmed reports that Jessie White's daughter, Vonnie, and estranged wife, spoke with Miller earlier that morning prior to the standoff with concerns about Jessie White's behavior.

According to reports by the Boone County 911 Center, the standoff began at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon.

"We were told to shut Route 17 down," Kevin Dalton, a spokesperson with the Spruce River Volunteer Fire Department told the Coal Valley News at 3:00 p.m.

A road block was set up at Ottawa Bridge, located near Lumberjacks Hardware Store on Spruce River Road/Route 17.

Area residents and media witnessed what sounded like approximately 100 gun shots during the standoff.

"It was awful. I have never heard anything like it. It sounded like 500 gun shots. At three different times there were shots fired," area resident Ida Fay Barker told the Coal Valley News.

At approximately 11:00 p.m. White's daughter was heard crying in a loud voice, "Daddy's dead. He's dead."

According to Miller, preliminary reports suggest that White's death was caused by a self-inflicted gun wound.

A source close to the family reported that what appeared to be a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head caused White’s death.

No other injuries or fatalities were reported.

Initial reports that White had his wife held hostage were discounted by officials.

When asked to comment on reports that phone lines were disconnected between family members and Mr. White during negotiations, Miller said, "Absolutely not. The phone lines were busy and we may have had some re-routed calls.

"As you know, it's a situation were a lot of tales are told and not all are factual.

"At this time we are treating this as a crime scene," Miller said.

Crime scene units remained on scene past 4:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Contact Joanie Newman at jnewman@coalvalleynews.com or call 304-369-1165.