Gaston College

Jamie was unable to finish high school or obtain a driver's license and remained living with her mother, but when she turned 21, she started collecting Social Security disability insurance and was assigned a health care provider who could help her with such tasks as paying bills and maintaining a bank account and would drive her to and from appointments.

This finally allowed Jamie to attain some independence and function on her own, so she enrolled part-time at the public community college Gaston College in hopes of earning her GED.

Jamie also wanted to eventually start a career as a substance abuse counselor, a decision which was inspired by her experience helping a close friend of hers get off drugs.

In 2006, Jamie started dating Ricky Dale Simons Jr., who was nearly 10 years older than her, and they first met when Jamie got into an altercation with another person and Ricky Jr. came to her defense.