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Korryn Threadgill: More than a murder victim
 Mike
Olander’s voice cracks when he talks about the murders of his daughter Fionna
and his granddaughter Korryn. “I don’t comprehend how this animal could do
something like this to my babies” says Olander. The animal he is talking about
is the man convicted of killing Fionna and Korryn, Martin McKee.
Fionna Olander had a two year dating relationship with McKee, a relationship
that ended when McKee tied up, drugged and strangled Fionna and her 10 year old
daughter Korryn Threadgill on November 8, 2009. His accomplice was Virginia
Gayle Youngblood who will stand trial in April 2011. The mother and daughters
bodies were found abandoned in a ditch in Post Oak Bend on Nov. 10, 2009.
Korryn Threadgill was a fifth grader at Janie Stark Elementary School in Farmers
Branch. Her grandfather Mike Olander says, “Korryn was really a sweet little
girl. Just like her mom. She was quite intelligent, maybe even too intelligent
for her own good at times. She really did have her mom's ability to debate
intelligently. She was smart as a whip, but was stubborn.” Olander went on to
say, “Such a short life, and such a delight to hold in my heart.”
Korryn Threadgill made an impact on the people who knew her and her tragic death
left her family and her school in mourning. Brian Threadgill is Fionna Olander’s
ex-husband and Korryn Threadgill’s father. He was actively involved in his
daughter’s life and had just made arrangements with Fionna so that he could have
Korryn with him every weekend. According to Mike Olander, “Brian beats himself
up over all of this. He would have had Korryn the following weekend [after the
murder] and it breaks his heart that she was even at Fionna’s apartment in
Addison on the day of the murders.”
Little Korryn Threadgill was very interested in science and she was an avid
reader. She read books that were well above her grade level and even use to read
some of her grandfather’s college literature. Mike Olander said the biggest
punishment Fionna could ever do to Korryn when she was in trouble was to take
away her books. Olander thought Korryn would grow up to be a scientist and noted
that she absolutely loved all insects, except ants.
When I asked Mike Olander what he remembers most about his granddaughter Korryn,
he shared a story about a pile of dirt in his front yard. “Korryn loved to play
on that silly pile of dirt in my yard. She had so much fun on it. Now that she
is gone I have not been able to get rid of that pile because it reminds me of
her. I miss her and my daughter every day. I miss talking to Fionna almost every
morning on the phone and I miss seeing Korryn’s smile.” Mike Olander officiated
Fionna’s funeral and though Fionna was cremated per her wishes, her ashes were
put in Korryn’s casket so that the mother and daughter who loved each other so
much in life, could be together in death.
The next part of this series will share Mike Olander’s story of seeking justice
for his daughter and granddaughter.
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