Mothers Of Homicide Victims Struggle Through Holidays
For the first time in two years, officers said cases have gone unsolved. They told ABC 36 News last year, there were 20 homicides, all solved. In 2012 there were 12 homicides, all solved.
Since the city and county governments merged in 1974, Lexington has seen 705 homicides. Police said 638 of them have been solved.
But for the families in Lexington impacted by homicides, numbers don’t matter and now in the holiday season, a group of mothers band together to keep one another strong.
"He still has his life, his family can still go see him on holidays. On holidays I decorate a grave," said Tammy Adams, mother of Jaleel Raglin, a homicide victim.
Adams shares that grief with mothers and families throughout Lexington. her son, Jaleel Raglin was a homicide victim. Andrea Crocker’s son was too. As was Tonya Lindsey’s and most recently, Anita Franklin’s.
"But I just can’t imagine how those families feel, just not knowing," said Franklin.
Lexington Police said there are seven cases out of 17 in 2014 that have not been cleared. Last year, police said there were 20 homicides and all 20 were cleared. The year before that, 12 homicides, all cleared.
"There’s some kind of closure, but the feelings don’t change," said Andrea Crocker, who lost her son Johntel.
So now, around the holidays, when they’re missing that child who was taken from them, the women cling to one another.
"We all have a common understanding so we understand each other without even verbally communicating so we don’t judge each other because we’re going through the same thing at different times," said Tonya Lindsey, whose son, Ezavion was a homicide victim.
The following on the names of the seven victims from 2014 whose cases haven’t been cleared:
- Glenn Rodrick Sanford, February 3rd
- Johnathan T. Price, June 21st
- Charles R. Wright, June 22nd
- Kierra N. Johnson, June 30th
- Amanda B. Franco, July 6th
- Darnelle L. Bates, October 5th
- Walter Durrell Gray Jr., November 16th
Lexington Police said they need the publics help solving these open investigations. If you have any information on these cases or any others, call them at (859) 258-3600.
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