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Music helps John Longworth get through trial

Posted at 12:30 AM, Feb 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-11 00:34:50-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- While he drives to the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne, John Longworth leans on the rhythms combining brass and guitars. 

It eases the pain of reliving the horror of November 2012. 

His son, Dion, and his son's wife, Jennifer, were killed in the Richmond Hill explosion. 

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John recalls that "Not Fade Away" by Florence and the Machine was the topic of one of the last emails he sent Dion before his death. 

"I was playing this 20 to 30 times, so I sent him an email telling him how much I love this," Longworth said, "I think my son was one of the best people I've known. Certainly better than me." 

Father and son began their appreciation for albums at an early age. 

"One thing, Dion, when he was 3 years old, he always hummed-hum, make noises," Longworth said. 

The Longworth's shared an interest in a variety of genres. In 2010, Dion bought his dad the Beatles box set. 

But it was Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons that helped John through the first trial. He played that CD during the six hour round trip to South Bend. 

"Says much of the time we are alone, but we have connections we carry. For me, I try to remember to be nice to people, you never know what they've been experiencing," Longworth said. 

A personal testimony of a father on a road trip unlike any other, in which every song soothes his loss and strengthens his love for a young couple. 

"I think of them every day," he said. 

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Call 6 Investigator Rafael Sanchez and Senior Digital Correspondent Jordan Fischer will be in Fort Wayne covering the trial every day. Download the RTV6 app to get the latest live blog posts as the proceedings unfold.

FOLLOW | Rafael Sanchez on Twitter | Jordan Fischer on Twitter

RELATED LINKS | Richmond Hill Special Section |  Mark Ray Leonard convicted on all counts

PREVIOUS | Timeline of events | Gallery: The Richmond Hill Explosion | Where were you at 11:11 PM?

INTERACTIVE MAP | Residents relive Richmond Hill explosion

 


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