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Family of Slain Allen County Girl Creates Memorial Scholarship

Lisa Autry

The parents of a young Scottsville girl murdered in 2015 are keeping her memory alive by helping students pay for college. 

The Gabbi Doolin Memorial Scholarship Fund was announced Thursday at Allen County-Scottsville High School.  Gabbi was a second-grade student at the Allen County Primary Center when she was killed.  Amy Doolin says her seven-year-old daughter wanted to be a teacher.

"I believe she would have done great at that.  She was very smart.  She loved to read and even do homework," Doolin told WKU Public Radio.  "I believe she would have went to college one day.  We want to give some other child that opportunity to further their education and do it in her memory."Each year, a graduating senior from ACSHS will receive award money that can be used at any college or university in Kentucky. The first recipient of the $2,000 scholarship will be announced at the school’s annual awards ceremony in May.  The scholarship fund will be administered by the College Heights Foundation at Western Kentucky University. 

The endowed scholarship fund was made possible through community donations by a Bowling Green auto dealership.  Leachman Automotive, where Brian Doolin is employed, gave a portion of their proceeds from cars sold last year to the fund that now contains more than $50,000.

The body of Gabbi Doolin was found in November 2015 behind ACSHS shortly after her parents reported her missing from her brother's football game.  Her cause of death was listed as strangulation and drowning.  Her accused killer, Timothy Madden, is expected to be tried on kidnapping, rape, sodomy, and murder charges early next year.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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