Closure

I wrote this final email not because I think Andy Zabel or Tamra Youngblut will read it. I doubt they will. I wrote this because this is closure for me.

After my sister read Grandview’s response to our BBB complaint, she texted me immediately: “There was a lot of blame in Grafton’s response.”

She said it felt like they were blaming Keith for damaging the apartment when he “committed suicide”.

She also pointed out something important: “People commit crimes. Suicide is not a crime. That’s why that language isn’t used anymore.”

What struck both of us was not just the wording itself, but the complete lack of compassion behind it. 

​The complaint was never about money. It was never about assigning blame for Keith’s death. It was about transparency, communication, dignity, and the handling of sentimental belongings after someone we loved died.

---

MY FINAL EMAIL TO ANDY ZABEL

It took 67 days to receive Keith’s Polaroid/Instax collection. This could have been resolved in March with four emails.

I knew the law. Tamra repeatedly stated Grafton was following it. I disagree.

When I informed Tamra that Keith likely died by suicide, she argued that the investigation was ongoing and then hung up on me. For Grandview to later reference suicide in its BBB response was insensitive and offensive, particularly when the actual issues involved delays, lack of transparency, and the mishandling of Keith’s belongings. Suicide is not a crime. Keith didn't commit suicide. He died by suicide. Language matters.

The typos in the final sentence of your response — “ands” and “Conner” — reflect the same lack of care and attention our family experienced throughout this process.

The only reason I have seen photographs of Keith’s apartment, including those showing what remained after his death, is because I obtained public records after Grafton refused to provide that information directly.

I found photographs of a Burlington fire truck and police car on the only SD card I received Friday. I am grateful I pushed Grafton to search for the cameras documented in the Fire Marshal’s report. Otherwise, I never would have seen those.

You accused me of sending too many long emails. The problem began with your first email to our family. Our request never changed from March 3. We consistently requested only sentimental items, photographs, with no monetary value be mailed to us. Had you properly reviewed the case from the beginning, this could have been resolved quickly and respectfully.

I sincerely hope lessons are learned from this experience so that no other family experiences this kind of unnecessary distress during an already devastating loss.

Finally, I am including our rejection of Grandview’s response to the BBB complaint for record purposes. According to the coroner’s office, the cause and manner of death were finalized on May 9, 2026. Although there was an attempted call that day, our family did not directly receive confirmation until May 12, so our BBB response reflected the information available to us at that time.
​
Leah Connor