Just a reminder that tonight at 7 PM in Friendswood is the candlelight vigil to mark the tenth anniversary of the abduction and murder of Laura Smither. Here’s the press release from the Laura Recovery Center:
JUSTICE FOR LAURA – CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
Tuesday, April 3, 7 PM – Stevenson Park, FriendswoodTO: Media News Crews and Editors
WHO: Laura Recover Center for Missing Children
WHAT: Justice for Laura – Candlelight Vigil
WHERE: Stevenson Park, 1100 South Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas
WHEN: Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.Laura’s family and the Laura Recovery Center will hold a public candlelight vigil, calling for Justice for Laura. The vigil marks the 10th anniversary of 12-year old Laura Kate Smither’s abduction and murder. During the vigil, Laura’s parents Bob and Gay Smither, joined by Friendswood Police Chief Bob Wieners and Laura’s priest Rev. Robert Wareing, will call for justice and the resolution of Laura’s 10-year old case.
Friendswood churches will ring their bells at 9AM on April 3rd in memory of Laura.
The evening will include prayers, the distribution of remembrance bracelets, and the lighting of candles which have come to symbolize “lighting the way home” for missing children throughout the nation.
Laura Smither disappeared on April 3, 1997 when she went for a run from her home in Friendswood, Texas. When she didn’t return, the police were called and a massive community search began which eventually included over six thousand volunteers and a battalion of U. S. Marines. After 17 days Laura’s remains were found on April 20, 1997, 14 miles from her home in a Pasadena, Texas retention pond.
Media opportunities: public candlelight vigil; “Call for Justice” and remarks by Laura Kate Smither’s dad, Bob Smither, Friendswood Police Chief, Bob Wieners and Laura’s priest, Rev. Robert Wareing; interviews with all speakers and the community who attend.
The Laura Recovery Center – for missing children – is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that was founded in Laura Smither’s memory. The Center focuses on Education, Search, and Prevention in the area of missing children, has offered free abduction prevention programs to over 135,000 children throughout the greater Houston area, worked with over 1,100 families with missing loved ones, and has organized over 75 community searches nationwide. The Center trains law enforcement at the Houston Police Department training academy and distributes educational materials and child ID kits.
Website: www.LRCF.org Toll Free: 1-888-898-5723 Local: 281-482-5723
May the Smithers find peace for themselves and justice for Laura.
UPDATE: Here’s the Chron story.