By Sheila Corson
The Chronicle

     OMAK – The family of Sandy Bauer said they relived the day of her death nearly 12 years ago when they were told Tuesday, Feb. 2, that her killer might have been found.
     Kelly E. Small, 47, Omak, was arrested Tuesday and heard anticipated charges Feb. 3 for Bauer’s 1998 death and a 2006 rape and attempted murder case.
     Bauer’s son, Frank Adams, said the family had expected nothing would ever happen, that the case was unsolvable. Now, he’s glad that someone is behind bars.
     “For the last 11 years, 11 months and two days we have been living in fear,” his wife, Joyce Adams, said on Feb. 4 after the court hearing. The family has always expected that whoever killed Bauer would kill again.
     It took another woman’s and another family’s suffering before police could get enough evidence for an arrest. The 2006 rape and attempted murder brought in evidence to link the two cases, including DNA evidence, that allegedly identified Small, police said.
     “I’m so sorry that woman and her family went through so much,” Joyce said through sobs. “But she did what we needed. She’s a hero.”
     Meanwhile, another family is reeling this week with their father and husband locked up behind bars, accused of the crimes.
     The Adamses and their daughter, Okanogan High School senior Ambrosa, 18, said they feel bad for the Small family.
     “Our world yesterday was getting put back together and their world was shattered,” Joyce said.
     Frank said he knew Small’s brother a little when he was in high school. Both said they know friends of the Small family. People described Small as a decent, good man, Joyce said.
     Joyce said she told a friend of the family earlier in the week that when the story came out, it would “blow a lot of people away.”
     More on family and friends’ reaction will be in the Feb. 10 print edition of The Chronicle.