National Day of Rememberance of Murder Victims

Remembering Those Lost to Violence

 

 

I would like to make this post today in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to violence, as well as families who have lost their loved ones to violence. This not only includes murder victims throughout our country, but victims throughout the world, especially our troops over seas.

There are ceremonies happening all throughout our nation that are remembering murder victims today, most notably one in Martha Lake, Washington this Sunday at 10:00 A.M. Even if you can't attend a ceremony in person, light a candle tonight to show you still remember these victims.

There are still many unsolved homicide cases that are unsolved to this day. There are missing persons who may have been victims of foul play. Please log on to websites such as The Charley Project or Missing and Exploited Kids to see if you can help with any of these unsolved cases from your area. Even the smallest details you see as unimportant can be of help. If you need victim support services, please click Here.

Amber Hagerman is the little girl who inspired the Amber Alert. Her murder remains unsolved. (Photo Credit: websleuths.com)

I would like to remind everyone of an unsolved homicide that is still unsolved to this day. It is one that affects all of us, and it has established a procedure that has saved thousands of lives a year. It is the disappearance of 9 year-old Amber Hagerman, who vanished on January 6, 1996. She was riding her bike with her brother in an east Arlington grocery store. A witness came forward and said they saw a man in a black truck grab Amber from her bike and then drive away.


An example of how the Amber Alert works. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia.org)

Four days later, a man walking his dog found Amber's body in a North Arlington drainage ditch. Her throat had been cut. To this day, her murder is still unsolved, but her legacy lives on through the AMBER ALERT: America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. I actually have one at the bottom of this site. You can also get Amber Alerts on your cell phones. It's free, and you could save a child's life.

Laura Smither inspired the Laura Recovery Center. Her murder remains unsolved. (Photo Credit: findagrave.org)

A year later, on April 3, 1997, 12 year-old Laura Kate Smither went out for her usual jog. She was an avid dancer, and was excited to celebrate her 13th birthday, only 20 days away. She never came back from her jog. Over the next few weeks, over 6,000 people searched for Laura. Laura's remains would later be recovered. She had been decapitated. Her killer has never been caught and charged, but there has been a prime suspect in the investigation. You can read more in depth about this from Laura's Case History.
Like Amber, Laura also left behind a legacy. Her family created the Laura Recovery Center, which aids in the search for missing children, as well as provides support for families.

The logo for the Laura Recovery Center features ballet slippers, because Laura loved to dance. (Photo Credit: lrcf.net)

Both of these girls disappeared a year apart, in towns four hours away from each other, located off of I-45. Both murders have similarities, but have never been linked to one another. Both the murders are still unsolved, but the investigations are still active.

If you have any information about the disappearance and murder of Amber Hagerman, please contact:

 

Arlington Police Department

(817) 459-5700

 

If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Laura Smither, please contact:

 

Friendswood Police Department

(281) 996-3300

Sources:
http://victimsupportservices.org/national-day-of-remembrance-for-murder-victims/
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/arlington/headlines/20110112-15-years-later-arlington-police-still-struggling-to-solve-amber-hagerman-case.ece
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20123942-504083/the-killing-fields-disappearance-of-texas-girl-still-haunts-reporter/