Homicide victims group sets spaghetti dinner Saturday

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

Columbiana County Families of Homicide Victims is trying to be a kinder, more gentle organization.

Belinda Puchajda started the organization in 2006 after her cousin Michael Williams was murdered. The case remains unsolved.

A friend, Kim Mitchell, helped as co-founder of the organization that pushed law enforcement for results.

Puchajda told county commissioners Wednesday that the organization was on a new track after talking and listening to law-enforcement officials and county Prosecutor Robert Herron.

She said she had verified 20 homicide victims in the last 30 years in the county. In the last five years in the county, the county coroner’s office said there were two homicides each in 2005, 2006 and 2007. There were eight in 2008 and none in 2009.

“The word is ‘victim,’” Puchajda said. “They did not go out and cause their death.”

The program plans to focus on passing tips to police, supporting the victims’ families, providing information to the public about victims, raising awareness in the community, and providing support. The group is seeking a nonprofit status so it can get grants for programs.

It will have a fundraiser spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lisbon Education Center, 38700 Saltwell Road, Lisbon. The cost is $6 in advance, $7 at the door, and children under 10 are admitted free.

For more facts, visit victimsofhomicide.blogspot.com.