Parents of slain children unite, share
RELEASE: The Rev. Pete Cozart gave opening remarks before a balloon release ceremony in front of a crowd of about 50 at the Warren Ampitheater. Cozart is the leader of the Trumbull County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, which conducted its annual Remembrance Day on Sunday.
REMEMBERING: Melanie Boucher of Warren lighted a candle for her sister Susan Criss at the Remembrance Day in Warren.
NEVER FORGET: Kathy Migliozzi of Warren lighted a candle for her slain daughter Courtney Rushwin.
By Jordan Cohen
Many of those attending still feel anguish over their losses.
WARREN — The Rev. Pete Cozart looked out at more than 50 people at the Warren Amphitheater who have lived the same nightmare he has — the loss of a child due to violence.
“It helps us to remember more of the good things our children did before their death,” he said. His son, Darryl, 33, was shot and killed in 1997.
The Rev. Mr. Cozart is the leader of the Trumbull County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, which conducted its annual Remembrance Day on Sunday.
The Trumbull chapter, part of a national organization, was chartered in 1988 and began holding the annual observances in 2000.
“It helps to know we’re not alone,” said Mr. Cozart’s wife, Genell.
Other parents agreed, but some such as Raquel Magallon of Youngstown still agonize because the deaths of their children are unsolved.
“There are no leads, no nothing,” Magallon said. Her son, Jason McInnis, 28, was killed in Youngstown in 2006.
Ed Hoerig of Newton Falls and his wife, Frances, believe the justice system and the government have failed them. Their 43-year-old son Karl, a major in the Air Force Reserves and a pilot for Southwest Airlines, was shot to death in his Newton Falls home in March 2007. The suspect in the slaying — Karl’s wife, Claudia — fled to her native Brazil, which has refused to extradite her.
“No one returns our phone calls anymore,” Hoerig said. “We’re hoping we can get some help here to get this back on track.”
Allie Redmond of Warren feels the same way. The suspects in the killing of her 27-year-old son Michael Burr await trial, but Redmond said she feels neglected by investigators.
“Families are now the victims,” Redmond said. “They are not remembered.”
The Rev. William Jennings of Warren, whose daughter was murdered, encouraged the assembled families to focus on remembering the positive events in their children’s lives.
“Just think of the good times you had and be uplifted,” the Rev. Mr. Jennings said.
Each family carried a balloon on which the name of the murdered son or daughter and a message were attached. The balloons were released, drifted over the city’s southwest side and disappeared into the evening sky.