Their Story

Aaron was murdered by a man to whom Aaron had rented a room.  He was shot to death and then his home was set on fire, severely burning his remains.  Aaron's killer was charged with 1st degree murder and was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

(click photo to go to Aaron's memorial page)

Amanda did not return home after returning videos to a nearby video rental store. Amanda's killers were caught driving her car. Amanda was carjacked, robbed and taken to the desert and shot to death. Her killers have not yet gone to trial.

(click photo to go to Amanda's memorial page)

I did not have Dillon in my care at the time he was murdered because I was very ill having complications in my third pregnancy. The third child I had I was giving up for adoption. Because I was so ill and on bed rest and had no one to help me with my children, I decided to put the boys (Lucas my oldest, 3, and Dillon my youngest, 23 months) in a temporary, voluntary foster care arrangement. I was scheduled to pick them up on June 27, 2001, when exactly one week beforehand, I got the call that he had stopped breathing.. I rushed to the hospital only to find out he was dead and to hear my 3-year-old son tell me that Charlie (the foster father) had put a pillow over Dillon's face to make him stop crying, and murdered him. I found out the reason why my baby was crying was simply because he wanted his pacifier. They thought he was too old to have a pacifier (like 23 months old is really too old!).

(click photo to go to Dillon's memorial page)

Hope was last seen wearing gray sweat pants and tennis shoes on Thursday 2 /21/02. She was reported missing 5 days later on Tuesday by her husband, Jerry Dale Meek. Hope left behind her 3 small children, her 1995 Chevy pickup, keys, cell phone, and her eyeglasses and contacts. Hope has not contacted her children since she has been missing.

(click photo to go to Hope's web page)

Stephane was reported missing by friends and when police came to her home, they found that it had been broken into and her car was missing.  The next evening, Stephane's car was found parked behind an apartment complex and she had been strangled and left in the car.  The autopsy suggested that Stephane might have been sexually assaulted.  An arrest has recently been made in this case.

(click photo to go to Stephane's memorial page)

Rachel was only 23 years old and had just become a mother to Alexis a few months before they were both murdered by a man who thought he was Alexis's father, but actually wasn't.  He had taken out a $125,000 life insurance policy and thought he would get rid of the paternity problem and make some money at the same time.  Rachel and Alexis were both stabbed to death in their car, Alexis still strapped in her car seat.  One of the killers was sentenced to death but won an appeal and was re-tried and again sentenced to death.  The other was given a life sentence.

(click photo to go to Rachel's memorial page)

Phyllis had to walk to work because she couldn't afford a car, but she was saving for one. As she was walking home one day, two young men decided to snatch her purse, with two others waiting in a "getaway car", a BMW. When they ran to grab her purse, they kicked her legs out from under her and she fell, hitting her head. She died a few hours after the attack  One of the perpetrators received a life without parole sentence. 

(click photo to go to Phyllis's memorial page)

Judy

While Rhonda's mother Judy was in the hospital awaiting surgery, Rhonda's stepfather, who was supposed to be caring for her, instead sexually assaulted her, strangled and beat her, dumped her body and then reported her missing. He was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death.  He has still not been executed.

(click photo to go to Rhonda's memorial page)

Ashley Marie O'Kelley was the daughter of Jamie McCombs. She died of asphyxiation Nov. 22 1997 at the age of 11 months in the home where she lived with her mother, Rebecca and her step-father of three weeks, Allen. We know she was killed by her step-father but have been unsuccessful in having her case reopened or prosecuted. December 2001 SLED closed it's investigation of her case. Jamie was killed May 12 1998 by Rebecca and Allen. He was ambushed in his home by Allen after Rebecca had lured him away from the house long enough for Allen to break in and hide in wait for his return. He was shot in the face when he stepped into his bedroom, chased down as he tried to escape, shot at again and finally run down by Allen. He was made to lie face down in a pool of his own blood for 30-45 minutes while Allen pulled up a footstool for a "conversation". He was then told to stand up. Upon doing so, Allen shot him in the back, piercing Jamie's heart. They they left him to die after disabling his telephones and slashing the tires on his truck. I found his body the morning of May 13 after receiving a call from his employer that Jamie had not been at work for two days and that he had not been able to contact Jamie by phone.

(click photos to go to Jamie & Ashley's memorial page)

Gracie and Tiffany were murdered by a father and son team.  Gracie and Tiffany went to the movies and when their parents returned home that night, the girls were missing.  Gracie knew the younger killer from school, and she and Tiffany were taken by him and his father to a remote area where they were sexually assaulted and murdered.  They were missing for several days. The killers were arrested and convicted. The father was sentenced to death and was executed in 2001. The son received a plea-bargained sentence of 45 years and was recently rejected for parole.

(click photo to go to Gracie and Tiffany's memorial page)

My son, James R. Marien was born April 17, 1976 and with his birth and life came a special magic for this mom, and all he touched in his too short time here. On August 1, 1996, at age 20, Jim was murdered during the course of an armed robbery at the music store where he worked. It’s this last which brings me to this space, in an endeavor to help others living this nightmare. And, in coming, I found I am also helped by others… I find that the care is reciprocal and ever present. If I’ve learned one thing in all this, it’s that our most precious angels continue to dwell in our hearts. Their sparkle remains. In peace and love, Lynne

(click photo to go to Jim's memorial page)

Stan was my husband's best friend and we miss him so much! Stan was a victim of carjacking in the early morning hours on April 29, 1987 in Illinois. He was on his way home from his job as night manager in a grocery when he stopped at a convenience store to buy his supper. The two men involved took him along with the car & then shot him to death rather than let him go. They were arrested two days later. The triggerman got Life Without Parole. The other turned State's Evidence & received a 25 year sentence, then was released on parole after serving less than 12 years. We think he is living somewhere in Missouri.

My brother was murdered February 21, 2001. I have had so many emotions since that phone call from my husband, telling me to hurry and come home, and with him ending with - by the way, where is your mom? The feeling that hit me in the stomach was horrible. My brother didn't even know his killer. Russell just stepped between him and his ex-wife to stop him from hitting her again. This is when the man shot 3 times. The first missed, causing my brother to start to turn away. The second went through my brother's side, causing Russell to fall to his knees clutching his side. The third bullet went straight through his spine and into his heart. After doing this the killer went and got his jacket and waited for the police. Witnesses say before he fired the last shot, he said, "I told you if you interfered, I'd kill you."  In October, 2001, the killer was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter. The only guilty verdict he received was for the domestic abuse and he was fined $2000.   

(click photo to go to Russell's memorial page)

Samantha's mom was murdered by someone who was known to her; a friend of the family, who was a drug addict and killed her in order to get money for his next high.  Urai's killer awaits execution for her murder.

(click photo to go to Urai's memorial page)

My Mom was brutally beaten and left to bleed to death. After I grew up and got married, I learned that my father had abused my mother emotionally and physically for most of their marriage. The emotional aspect of the abuse was always apparent, but Mom hid the effects of the physical abuse well. I learned just how brutal and evil my father was after I had married. I begged Mom to leave, and she finally did. I was so proud of her, and I knew how much courage it took for her to leave. When she left my father promised her that if he couldn't have her, no one ever would. I told Mom that we all loved her and we wouldn't let him touch her ever again. A couple of months went by and Mom was granted a divorce from my father. About six months after leaving my father, someone beat my mother unconscious and then kicked and stomped on her abdomen repeatedly. He then left her to bleed to death on the floor. Perhaps his promise to kill Mom was the only one he ever kept. My father called my house and left this message on my answering machine: "Stacie, this is your father. Your mother is dead." My whole world came crashing down around me. I don't remember a whole lot about the week that followed her murder, but I will never forget how it broke my heart to look into my children's eyes and tell them that Grandma was gone. That along with the knowledge that my two week old son would never know his beautiful grandmother tore me apart. When the police talked to my father, he claimed complete innocence and stated that he had heard from a friend that Mom was dead. That was his explanation for the message he left on my machine. The murderer remains free. I love you, Mama.

On May 11, 2001, our lives were forever changed. Donny had not been getting along with a new neighbor and they had been arguing some over the previous weeks. Nothing big, just stuff like parking spaces. On May 11, he called me on the telephone just to say hello and I love you. While he was on the phone, Dustin Harp and Rebecca Mackey decided to murder him. They did something to get him to go outside. Then, Dustin provoked a physical fight with Donny in order for Rebecca to have a chance to go and get his gun. Donny was armed with a bowl of noodles and a cordless phone. After he broke free of the physical fight, Donny got back on the phone with me. He wanted to let me know he was okay. He didn't realize he was already doomed. The gun was brought to Dustin. Donny ran away. He was hit several times in the back while he was trying to get away. Donny ran an entire block with this madman shooting at him before he finally collapsed in a parking lot. Help was there immediately, but the injuries were too much. The first bullet went through most of his vital organs. This happened in daylight in front of several witnesses and was less than a block from the police station.  

(click photo to go to Donald's memorial page)