Greater Portland Area Chapter
Parents Of Murdered Children
And Other Survivors Of Homicide Victims
14427 S. Forsythe Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-8039, www.POMC.com/portland/
July 2014
Volume 33, No. 7
Group meetings
Monday
July 7
Parents of Murdered Children and Other Victims of Homicide Survivors—
Monthly meeting for the greater Portland POMC Chapter. Meeting is held on
the first Monday of each month at the Peace House, 2116 NE 18th Ave., Portland. (See map below) Meeting begins at 7:30pm but is open at 7:00 for informal time to sign-in, check out books, and socialize.
Tuesday
July 15
Compassionate Friends—Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each
month at the Sunnyside Seventh Day Adventist Church, 10501 SE Market,
Portland. Please call 503-248-0102 for more information.
Tuesday
July 8
Crime Victims United—CVU is a group dedicated to changing the way the
law relates to survivors of crime. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the
month at the Wilsonville Denny’s Restaurant, located off I-5’s Wilsonville
Road exit (#283). Contact the Vaughn’s at (503) 646-0171 or visit
www.crimevictimsunited.org.
Thursday
July10
Survivors of Murder and Vehicular Homicide—Meeting is held the second
Thursday of each month at the Port of Woodland, 141 Davidson Avenue,
Woodland, WA at 6:30 pm. For more information and location, please contact
Delores Cook at (360) 425-8658 or (360) 751-8658 (cell).
Wednesday
July 30
ROCK—Remember our Children and Kinship, a Compassionate Friends
group led by Valerie Smith. Group meets the last Wednesday of each month
and is held at 912 East Main Street, Battle Ground, Wa 98604 in the community
center. Call Valerie at 360-904-2827 for more information.
Unitingsiblings.com Amanda Harris, a member of our Chapter and the Valley
of the Sun Chapter, has formed an online Sibling Support venue, also via
phone or email. Amanda lost her brother Joshua to murder and understands the
sibling grief in a way only siblings can.
Contact her at either
[email protected] or 623-866-3189.
What Happens
At a meeting?
POMC Meetings are a
time for sharing experiences and emotions.
We share a common
situation, so we are free
to express any emotion:
anger, sadness, frustration, and laughter. We
begin by sharing stories, sometimes focusing on a particular
topic. Occasionally, we
invite a speaker. We
come together to support each other, not to
judge.
In order to
maintain a safe place
for sharing, we ask that
anything said at a meeting remain confidential.
Chapter Leader
Mary Elledge (503) 656-8039
Board Members:
Mary Elledge, Chapter Leader
Gayle Moffitt, Co-Leader (503) 761-1304
Delores Cook, Co-Leader (360) 751-8658
Irene James, Secretary
Betty Groves, Treasurer
Shirlene Guthrie, Parent
Pat Schwiebert, Professional Advisor
Rick Vaughn, Parent
Cherrie Dodge, Associate Fund Raiser
Our Loved Ones Remembered...
BILLY J. HEIN
REBECCA SCHAEFFER
LINDA LOUISE LINCOLN
Lived 7/14/66 - 11/28/88
Son of Frank & Bonita Aadland
Lived 11/6/67 - 7/18/89
Daughter of Benson & Danna Schaeffer
Lived 9/10/58 – 7/12/99
Mother of Tara Lincoln
Daughter of Wallace & Valer Fowler
Sister of Tana Locke, Lori Oleson, Jamie
Hailey, Jeffrey Fowler & Joshua Cole
DANA LEE SALYER
RICHIE SHANNON
Lived 11/5/65 - 7/1/86
Niece of Cindi Angerhofer
Lived 7/4/75 - 12/29/93
Son of Cathy Shannon
Brother of Shannon Shannon
Grandson of Richard M. Jones
CHARLES H. MORRIS
DOD - 7/11/75
Son of Grace Ashley
LAURA JEAN BELL
Lived 8/31/68 - 7/7/85
Daughter of Pat & Shirley Balbi
DAWN A. STALNAKER
Lived 7/4/55 - 1/12/92
Daughter of Jean Campagna
Sister of Donna McWilliams &
Denise Morris
DALE EDWARD COX
Lived 3/27/61 - 7/19/82
Son of Bob & Shirley P. Cox
ROB ELLEDGE
Lived 8/4/64 - 7/13/86
Son of Robert & Mary Elledge
Godson of Mary Alice Godfrey
Brother of Renea Strong & Rhonda &
Robyn Elledge
Nephew of Donna Barnes
CORY NEAL WASHINGTON
DEBORAH SPICER
Lived 7/31/62 – 10/7/89
Daughter of Donna Spicer
TRAY THOMAS
Lived 6/13/65 - 7/29/91
Son of Duane Washington
Fiancé of Senja Lee Tapanen
Lived 7/14/62 – 9/14/79
Brother of Samantha & Tracey
TONJA “TONI” HARRY
BRYAN EUGENE BARNES
Lived 12/20/63 - 7/9/83
Loved one of Barbara Harry
Lived 2/18/66 – 7/9/89
Son of Patricia Manze
Brother of Victoria Hawley
YOLANDA EVETTE PANEK
Lived 6/24/74 - 7/13/95
Daughter of Susan Panek
Mother of Rodney Panek
Loved one of Al & Sandy Panek &
June Panek
LAYLA DAWN CUMMINGS
Lived 11/7/76 – 7/7/84
Daughter of Mindy Bakker
ARON PANKOWSKI
JACKIE BEARD
Lived 7/14/67 – 10/9/93
Son of Lanita Belinskey
Lived 4/16/87 - 7/8/96
Daughter of Jeannie Meyer
CHARLES RAY JOHNSON
MALAYA ANN FLIPPING
Lived 7/30/77 - 1/31/94
Daughter of Agatha A. Scott
Lived 7/6/85 – 3/20/91
Son of Jenny Bakker
DEBRA BARNETT
KRISTINA LYNN HORNYCH
DIANNA McCAIN STURGIS
Lived 3/16/70 – 7/29/02
Sister of Carol Hansen
Lived 6/12/87 - 7/14/89
Daughter of Debbie Holfeld
Grandaughter of Sylvia Tombleson
Lived 7/10/60 – 7/8/97
Friend of Lue Baldwin
STEPHANIE BROWNING
MAUREEN ANN HODGES
Lived 5/22/61 - 7/8/87
Daughter of Chuck & Irene James
Niece of Betty Groves
TODD A RUDIGER
Lived 4/29/63 - 7/17/92
Son of Vickie Johnson
DIANA GAIL MOFFITT
Lived 12/4/66 - 7/23/87
Daughter of Gayle Moffitt
Niece of Carol Johnson
ELIZABETH ANN ZALAS-EDWARD
Lived 11/22/50 – 7/16/96
Wife of John Zalas
Friend of Rosie Heacock
KAREN WASEM KEATES
Lived 7/10/61 – 1/13/86
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Wasem
SARA JANE WEBSTER
Lived 4/12/90 – 7/31/94
Daughter of Cary & Pamela Webster
RASHEEDAH TAYLOR
KENNETH P. GROTE
Lived 8/28/77 – 7/10/97
Daughter of Brenda Haworth
Lived 5/31/61 - 7/2/86
Brother of April Reid and Michele Grote
JACOB LEO HAYWARD
JOSEPH GROTE, JR.
Lived 6/28/24 - 7/2/86
Father of April Reid
Father of Michelle Janzen
CLIFF REDDING
Lived 3/19/61 - 7/21/82
Son of Loretta Rose
EMILY JENNIFER KREVI
Lived 7/11/55 - 10/27/89
Daughter of Phoebe Krevi
Sister of Steve & Norman
Lived 7/8/71 - 5/10/98
Son of David & Hannah Hayward
RAHSHANN D. STONE
Lived 7/18/78 - 2/7/98
Son of Anthony & Thelma Stone
MELINDA KAY CUSTER
Lived 7/14/60 – 8/13/94
Daughter of Marvia Stratis
LINDA MITALIPOVA
Lived 1/27/88 – 7/27/04
Daughter of Shoukhrat & Gulinur Mitalipova
Lived 3/14/99 – 7/29/02
Niece of Carol Hansen
DAWN BROWNING
Lived 4/5/97 – 7/29/02
Niece of Carol Hansen
ROBERT BROWNING
Lived 10/29/66 – 7/29/02
Friend of Carol Hansen
CHAD MICHAEL DUNAWAY
Lived 7/14/74 – 9/8/02
Son of Cheryl Malicoat
Grandson of Patricia Patterson
Nephew of Charlene LaBonte
RENEE LYN MORRIS
Lived 7/18/71 – 12/21/02
Daughter of Keith and Pat Elmore
Mother of unborn son, Noah Daniel
Mother of Bryant, Alexis, and Johnathan
APRIL CHRISTINE HALL
Lived 10/16/74 – 7/17/05
Daughter of Susan Sheppard
Granddaughter of Nancy Lorenz
Niece of Cynthia Rose
MAUREEN ROTE
Lived 5/22/61 – 7/8/87
Sister of Steve Rote
Our Loved Ones Remembered...
JAY KRAWSKY
PETER THERIAULT
Lived 1/24/63 – 7/27/03
Son of Gwen Krawsky
Brother of Brian and Dave Krawsky and
Kim Lee Kwai
Lived 7/7/47 – 12/2/98
Brother of Sue Fulbright and Betsy Schlect
DIEGO AGUILAR
Lived 7/26/90 – 3/24/06
Son of Dena Aguilar
Grandson of Mary and Bradley McConnell
ADAM CALLBREATH
DOD 7/28/06
Son of Michael Callbreath
LARRY RICHARD ROCKENBRANT
Lived 7/5/63 – 4/14/88
Son of Darlene Wolf and Doug Wolf
Brother of Lisa, Misty and Chris Rockenbrant; Uncle of Ashley and Stephanie
Rockenbrant and Tyler Witherspan
KIMBERLY MCDANIEL
Lived 6/10/83 – 7/15/06
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Tremain
CHAUNTEE JOHNSON
Lived 5/18/77 – 7/22/05
Son of Michelle Woods
HEATHER ELIZABETH ANDERSEN
Lived 7/17/85 -10/08/05
Daughter of Jenie Shilling and Les Andersen; Granddaughter of Kathleen and Larry
Stratton; and Opan and Andy Andersen
STACY M. COOK
Lived 10/29/73 – 7/7/90
Daughter of Marcia Cook
TASHA PULS
Lived 7/21/72 – 11/6/03
Loved one of Tim and Misty Boggs
TONY KENNEDY
Lived 2/21/77 – 7/8/99
Son of Karen Kennedy
MAX CHAMBERLIN
HAZEL “SIS” STEPHENS
Lived 7/3/45-11/26/04
Loved one of Jeffrey C. Stephens
and Sarah Sutherland
MEGAN KOHL
Lived 5/31/85 – 7/21/06
Daughter of Teresa Kohl
ERIC ALAN WALSWICK
Lived 7/15/85 – 3/3/12
Son of Lori & Tim Walswick
Loved one of Melissa Springer
Lived 7/5/87 – 11/3/09
Son of John Chamberlin
CHARLES EDWARD MALONE
MICHELLE WALKER
Lived 12/7/32 – 7/24/70
Loved one of Peggy Malone
Lived 11/18/70 – 7/6/13
Daughter of Dolly Spencer
JACOBY PHELPS
Lived 6/2/10 – 7/1/10
Son of Sarah Shipley
Grandson of Barbara Shipley
ROBERT DOUGLAS HAWS
Lived 7/24/80 – 7/19/10
Son of Diane Bernard
ANGIE HOLCOMB
Lived 1/24/71 – 7/4/03
Daughter of Charleen Holcomb
JOSEPH PANKONIN
Lived 7/13/76 – 4/17/07
Loved one of Gina Balfour
MICHAEL VU
Lived 12/6/92 – 7/30/11
Cousin of Garland Smith
Telephone & Email Friends
DONNA FERGUSON
Lived 2/18/74 – 7/17/92
Sister of Donna Ferguson
TODD JAMES YOUNG
Lived 4/20/65 – 9/25/10
Son of Bernice Young
RHONDA CASTO
Lived 7/2/85 – 3/16/09
Daughter of Julia Simmons
EDWARD KELLY SPANGLER
Lived 7/30/70 – 2/16/14
Son of Alice Spangler
CURTIS PAUL DUNN
Lived 7/7/84 – 4/13/09
Son of Valerie Smith
Grandson of Susie Delany
If you feel you need to talk, even through tears, the
following individuals are ready to listen:
Delores Cook
360-751-8658
Barbara Norris (Vehicular Homicide)
360-751-2104
Rick Vaughn
503-646-0171
Carolyn (Kip) Brown
503-502-7907
In Jackson County: Emma Adams
541-774-8187
In Curry County: Phoebe Krevi
541-813-1045
In Medford: Vicki Kelly
541-535-5284
In Coos Bay: Jen Shilling
541-297-6348
In Central Oregon: Kate Rohauer
541-410-7395
Jean Linn:
[email protected]
Amanda Harris (Sibling):
[email protected]
THE GREATER PORTLAND CHAPTER IS NOW FUNDING FOR THE NEW WALL FOR OUR MEMORIAL
GARDEN. WE APPRECIATE ANY AMOUNT OF HELP ANYONE CAN DO. AFTER THE NEXT NAMES
ARE ADDED, WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEW WALL IS COMPLETED TO ADD NEW
NAMES. THE NEW WALL SHOULD GIVE US MANY YEARS TO ADD ADDITIONAL NAMES. THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE APPRECIATE ANY HELP WE RECEIVE. DONATIONS CAN BE
SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: POMC, 14427 S. FORSYTHE RD. OREGON CITY, OR 97045.
Pat Kipper will be continuing her column on “Unsolved Crimes” soon. She is now caring for
a friend who is ill. We wish them both the best and know that Pat is delivering the best care
possible. You are a special friend, Pat, and we are lucky to have you helping us as well.
JULY MESSAGE FROM MARY:
HOMICIDE IS A LOSS LIKE NO OTHER
Not too long ago, I was talking to a group of people when
we got on the subject of “losing someone we loved”. Of
course, I had to bring up “losing a loved one to homicide”.
One man said, “Sometimes, bad things just happen.” I
could not help myself; I had to say, “Murder does not just
happen. People deliberately take the life of someone. Murder is not an accident or an act of fate. It is an act of hate.”
only lose a loved one, but now our faith. We are told by others that we must forgive the murderer. Most murderers are not
even sorry. Most of them are just sorry that they were caught.
If the people telling us to forgive believed in a loving God,
why wouldn’t they say that we should put it in God’s hand?
Why is it that we are being judged?
After the June monthly meeting, some members remained to
I have to say though that the best explanation of murder I talk further with one another. Though their cases were differknow of is the following from Carrie M. Freitag in her ent, most of them struggled with the same problems. Several
were waiting for hearings or trials. Others were waiting for
book, “Aftermath in the Wake of Murder”:
information so they would know what they could expect. Most
“Although the struggle with grief is part of every
of them were reliving the murder of their loved ones over and
death, murder is darker than death, and so is the road
over again. They all regretted what they could have or should
to surviving and healing in the aftermath. Murder
have done. Though they could not have done anything to predevours innocent lives with a cruelty that is absent
vent the homicide, they still blamed themselves. Talking with
of reason, absent of values, and absent of compasone another and knowing that we had many of the same feelsion. Murder breaks all the sacred rules, knows no
ings helped. Again, they knew others understood and shared
fairness, and can never be undone, or compensated.
the same pain.
It provokes fear and rage, and tempts us to battle it
on its terms instead of ours. Murder drives even the
Being a co-victim of homicide is a long and unbelievably grief
most loving and compassionate people to the edge of
-stricken road. It is often hard to want to go on. Yet, by going
that fine line that separates our respect for life from
on, we can be a witness to the horror of homicide. Murder
our violent potentials. The aftermath of murder
cannot be tolerated. We can be the voice for our murdered
takes us straight through hell where we stand eye-toloved ones. Please know that we are here for all of you.
eye with the evil that hides behind human faces, and
what we do in the face of that evil defines what lies
All my love, Mary Elledge
behind our own face. The aftermath of murder is
nothing less than a full-blown emotional struggle.”
This paragraph is so powerful that we are proud to have it
engraved on the back of our “Parents Of Murdered Children Memorial Wall” in Oregon City, Oregon. We hope it
will help educate all of us on what we go through and what
others go through when a loved one is murdered. Most important, we never want to take away the grief that others
suffer when a loved one dies. The horrid fact though about
homicide is that murder cannot be resolved. Also, our grief
is postponed because of going through the justice system
and for those who never get their cases solved. There are
families whose loved ones’ bodies are never found. And
even if there is a trial, murderers can get off without any
sentence or with one that is not even close to being just.
None of us ever get to say “good-by”. We also do not get
to be with them in their last days or hours on earth. Having
done hospice work for many years, I know that this is important in going through the grief process. None of us ever
get to say “good-by” or “I love you” when someone is murdered.
Being able to talk to other co-victims is most important for
all co-victims of homicide. Otherwise we have no way to
know what is normal or not. We have people telling us that
we should be over this by now. But, these people are not
even co-victims of homicide themselves. We hear some
people say that this is part of “God’s plan”. Some of us not
LORI WALSWICK OFFERS
SUPPORT AND HER TIME
We at POMC are proud to give you the name of a
member who has volunteered her time to e-mail or
talk on the phone with POMC members who need
extra time. She is a great listener. Her name is Lori
Walswick. Lori’s son, Erick, was murdered over
two years ago. She is home a lot and wants to
spend time helping other co-victims. Lori has had
the experience of going through the justice system
recently and has a great deal of knowledge to be
able to help others who are reaching that point. She
also was very close to her son and understands loss.
Being able to tell your story is the best help you can
get. Lori is also trustworthy and would keep your
information confidential. I highly recommend that
you give her a call or send her an e-mail. We are so
lucky that she has offered to help. You can reach
Lori at 360-241-6234 or e-mail: [email protected].
MELISSA DAVIS SHARES HER SENTENCING LETTER IN
MEMORY OF HER BELOVED SON, RYAN JOHNSON
(The Portland POMC Chapter is
proud to share the letter Melissa
Davis sent to us that she read at the
sentencing of the man, Jeff Johnson,
who murdered her son. We are honored to share it. We send our love
and sympathy to Tim and Melissa
Davis and Ryan’s brothers, Austin
and Calvin for their loss.)
Honorable Judge, I would first like to
start out by thanking you for this opportunity to speak.
th
On January 26 , 2012, at approximately 3:18 our lives were forever
changed. I received the worst phone
call of my life while I was at work.
When I answered, all I could hear
was screaming and sirens. I immediately started shaking. My call was
disconnected. I called my husband
back and he was hysterical when he
answered. He was screaming and
crying, “Ryan, Austin—shot in head!
Dead! Thriftway! “Get here! Get
here!”
I was so lost and confused! I was
shaking uncontrollably! I drove to
Thriftway! Police, police tape and
people were everywhere. I couldn’t
understand what had happened.
When I got out of my car, I began
looking for Tim. The first deputy I
saw was a friend of mine and I said
to him I know who did this. It was
Jeff and Megan Johnson!! (They are
not related to Ryan Johnson.)
I saw Tim and I ran to him—all of
this time thinking Ryan and Austin
were both dead. We were hugging
and crying. Nothing made since! Our
world was flipped upside down and
spinning so fast. Then someone
hugged me from behind. It was Austin! That was the first I knew that
Austin was alive. I grabbed him and
he told me that Jeff ran up behind
Ryan and shot him several times. He
told me Jeff was looking into his eyes
and smiled at him when he was executing Ryan.
Tim and I were saying that we
needed to get Calvin. Suddenly, I
heard the worst blood curdling
scream. I felt it through my veins! I
will never forget it. It was Calvin
screaming, “NOOOO, NOOOO! We
never had a chance to protect him.”
By this time, it was too late! All of
our lives were “Forever Changed!!!”
The last two years have been so very
tough to deal with. Every aspect of
our lives has been changed. The normal we always knew was destroyed.
I put all my focus on how to save my
family. For two years, I forgot how
to take care of myself. Sleeping, eating, working, and day to day things
that were so easy to do before became so complicated. I would look
in the mirror and see how old I suddenly looked. The couch or our bed
became “our new best friends”. Depression made me unable to think or
feel like I could not even function.
Work was so overwhelming! I was
unable to relate to normal people
anymore! There were so many times
that I forced myself to go on. I lived
in constant worry! My sons would
say that they were going to the store,
and I would lose my mind. I would
be in fear that every time they left
they were going to die!
I have racked my brain so many
times! Jeff Johnson did not have to
do this! He never came to us as
grandparents and say let’s sit down
and come up with a plan to help
Megan and Ryan work through these
issues. He never did that! Instead,
he executed Ryan!
Jeff said we were dangerous people!
He was afraid we were going to do
drive by shootings on his house! We
terrorized his family! I can’t think of
one time that we did any of these
things. Not one single threat! His
family have said on media sites that
Ryan was a sociopath, a master manipulator, and narcissistic. He also
said that Ryan was the nightmare in
his own son’s dreams. How awful,
sick and cruel can a family be? They
are evil!
Jeff murdered Ryan because he
wanted to free his daughter of years
of child custody. All Ryan wanted to
do was to play with his little boy. He
wanted to hug him and hold the child
he helped create. Instead, they made
everything so hard for Ryan. Ryan
did everything that Megan’s family
wanted him to do.
Ryan loved his little boy more than
anything. He wanted to be in his life.
What Jeff didn’t think about was that
Ryan’s blood also runs through Rylan’s veins. Rylan will feel his
daddy. He will look like his daddy.
He will do the same quirky things his
daddy did. But, Jeff took all of this
away from Rylan. Someday Megan
and her family will have to explain
why her farther murdered his father.
Rylan will seek us out someday. We
will be here waiting—with our arms
open wide. My husband will tell Rylan all about his daddy and how fun
he was. He will also tell him how
much his daddy loved him.
During trial, Jeff was called a loving
doting father. If that was true, where
were his kids? Why weren’t they
here defending him, supporting him,
or supporting his decision? Where
was Megan, his daughter? In reality,
Jeff is a mean, cruel, evil man. A
COWARD!
Jeff thought he solved the problem.
But in reality, he opened up a can of
hell for his entire family. He is a
murderer and will always be a murderer. He lost the title Jeff Johnson
when he decided to execute Ryan.
His family has to forever live with
that!
I am so happy this trial will finally be behind us. The anxiety of not knowing, of not understanding, terrified that it
could go bad, and the exhaustion were unbearable. The lies that were told were almost laughable. Ryan out smarted
you! He is not gone. He is here with all of us. Ryan won, Jeff! Ryan won!!
This is another door we can close so we can more to the next phase of our lives. We are going to live! Ryan loved life
and he also wanted to live. Ryan is inside all of us. He will help guide us through the rest of our lives. He is the light
that will always be shining brightly.
When we finally received the guilty verdict, it was the biggest relief. I really believe Jeff is not sorry for what he has
done. He has shown no remorse. I don’t have to sit here and scream, yell or cuss at him, or tell my wishes for him. He
is going to the one place he deserves. The one place where all evil lies and that is HELL! When you wake up, when
you go to sleep, you will be in that special place you earned all by yourself. You are selfish and a coward. You will
always be the monster that took a young father’s life.
I will never forgive you, but I will also not allow you to take my life. I will live and Ryan will be living through me.
Ryan wanted to be a fireman. Well, he is now! He also wanted to be with his son. Well, he is now! Ryan loved his
family and he will forever be with all of us. Ryan will “forever live”! We will do the things Ryan loved to do and we
will honor him for the rest of our lives. We will always remember Ryan! His smile, his laugh, his love, and his silliness can never be taken from us. Jeff couldn’t take that away from us. Yes, Ryan will live on!
Thank you, Roger, Chris, Johanna, Gary and everyone else that worked so hard on this case. We truly love you all.
We are all bonded together for the rest of our lives. And a special thanks to the jury for seeing the truth. God bless you
all! Thank you!
Melissa Davis
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT BROOKE JOHNSON DOES SENIOR
PROJECT FOR POMC WALL
(The Greater Portland Chapter is grateful to Brooke Johnson for helping us to help build our new wall.
Her dedication, compassion, and hard work are examples of her understanding and love for her cousin.)
THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO US BY GAYLE RIDDERBUSH, AUNT OF BROOKE JOHNSON
My niece, Brooke Ann Johnson, a junior at Tillamook High School, ( THS) did her senior project on the POMC Wall
in Oregon City. For a Senior Project, the student must pick up some sort of community service project that has to affect the community. For her project, she had to donate 30 hours of service, reach her goals, has to give a 15 minute
speech in front of peers and adults. She had to have 3 visuals to present during her speech.
Brook put out her donation cans, collected pop cans, and sold the pins that Janet Martin had started a little over two
years ago when the project was just beginning. (Janet Martin is a POMC mother who donated thousands of dollars,
along with her husband Richard, as a Masons Project in memory of their daughter for the Memorial Wall.)
When Brook presented her project, she had two posters and her donation cans and a graphic slide show. Her goal was
to reach $1000.00 by the end of the school of 2014. At the time of her presentation, she had reached the goal of
$800.00.
All of this, she did while being a full time high school student, THS Dance Team and THS Soft Ball Team and dance
classes. The project started in January of this year. The reason Brook chose the POMC Wall as a project was that her
cousin, Dion Michelle Wilks, was murdered in 2003 when Brook was six years old. She loved her cousin and wants to
be like her in many ways.
Here is the $1100.00 for her efforts. We are very proud of Brooke Ann Johnson.
Sincerely, Gayle Ridderbush, mother of Dion Michelle Wilks
THE GREATER PORTLAND CHAPTER IS PLANNING ITS NATIONAL DAY OF
REMEMBERANCE ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 AT MT. VIEW CEMETERY IN
OREGON CITY
It’s time again! We will be celebrating our 6th National Day of Remembrance at Mt. View
Cemetery on Thursday, September 25, 2014. We are all grateful to those who helped us
over the five years with both fundraising and building. Our POMC Oregon and Washington Memorial Wall is the eighth in the nation and the only POMC Memorial Wall in
the Northwest. We are excited that it represents and honors both Oregon and Washington
victims. This validates that we are not alone in our grief.
Gifts of Remembrance
Premier Manufacturing Company pays for our newsletter
through the efforts of Jeanne
Gianella. Jeanne’s son, Billy
was a victim of homicide.
(5/31/65-6/7/92).
Our service in September will be a meaningful tribute to our loved ones. Each name will Shawn Haddock in memory of
all victims of homicide.
be read aloud and is a time to celebrate their lives and a reminder to never lose sight and
never forget. Simon Wiesenthal, a Holocaust survivor, said, “If we forget, it will happen
again.” We will never let that happen. Our loved ones will never be forgotten.
Nearly 34,000 people are murdered every year or killed by a drunk or drugged driver.
Our hope is that our wall will remind our leaders to remain vigilant, protecting society and
enforcing laws to keep criminals that pose a threat to the public incarcerated.
We are thrilled that so many people visit our memorial daily. It is open from dawn to
dusk each day. Running water flows down a column of stones that represents millions of
tears families and friends shed from the murder of their loved ones. These tears are endless. Our lives are changed forever. The sayings and verses engraved on the walls are
constant reminders of our love and the magic of “giving sorrow words”.
But, we need your help. We will be adding more names to our wall as soon as our engraver is available to do the work. After the names our added, our wall will be full. Unfortunately, your support is needed to build another wall to add more names. We would
appreciate any financial help to make this possible. Donations can be sent to: POMC Memorial Wall, 14427 S. Forsythe Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045. Our new wall will be able
to hold several hundred names. Any contribution will be appreciated. Thank you all so
much. If you have any questions, please call 503-656-8039.
Memorial Donations
CATHY LAGERS
BERNICE YOUNG
JULLIE WALKER AND
ALOWA NESBITTE
BROOKE JOHNSON
GAYLE RIDDERBUSH
The following names are set to be engraved and will be added to our existing “Oregon and Washington
POMC Memorial Wall”:
A
D
D
I
T
I
O
N
S
Please e-mail, call or write to Mary Elledge at [email protected], (503) 656-8039 or POMC,
14427 S. Forsythe Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045 if any name is left out and needs to be added.
Officer Robert Libke
David Shane Polin
Lucia Chavez Barela
Nathan Charles Hogue
Dustin M. Finney
Samantha Effingham
David Michael Grubbs
Robert Harrington
Paul Michael Wilde
Candace Straub
Laurie Linda Veneable
Larry Wayne Clark
Christopher John Hamm
Christopher Louis Chandler
Tamara Smith
Dylan Berreth Day
Christopher Louis Chandler
Kenneth Lynn Roden
Rhonda Kristen Casto
Victor “Todd” Howell
Mandie Vankeirsbilck
Melinda Beth Kotkins-Cooper
John A. Nordstrum
Kristen Brydurm
Max Chamberlin
Walter Ackerson Jr.
Jeffery B. Walter
Angela A. Walker
Lynn Leeann Ring
Joseph Ryan Pankonin
Ronald James Overstreet
Carol Lynne Keightley
Judyth Cox
Dylan Barreth Day
Dennis Dean Scharf
Michelle Walker
Ryan Eugene Momeny
Joann Marie Horstman
Bryan Meier
Joseph Dwayne Albert
Michael Chapman
Scott E Gnuschke
Meah Vankeirsbilck
Lavell Michael Anthony Matthews
Mia Lynn Clayton
Eddie Ben Barela
Kurt Lydell Levias Jr.
Erin Tonna Reynolds
Bobby Maes
Angela Jean Burke
Joann M. Horstman
David Anthony West
Alla Bogdanov
Cynthia Diane DeVore
Ryanne Elizabeth Mace
Carolyn Welker
Maria Louise Radtke
Joshua Smith
Samatha Effingham
Jimmy Zho
Preston Yahne
Todd James Young
Edward Kelly Spangler
Derek Scott Wagner
Linton Scott
Jesse Weatherford
Parents of Murdered Children &
Other Survivors of Homicide Victims
Greater Portland Chapter
19500 SW Teton Ave.
Tualatin, OR 97062
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Portland, OR
Permit No. 4693
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
7
Important Notice Concerning This Newsletter:
Each month a number of newsletters are returned due to delivery problems. In addition to the initial postage, return postage is
charged by the Postal Service. To minimize this expense, please write to the return address of this newsletter or contact Erin at
[email protected] if your address changes or you no longer wish to receive this publication.
Chapter Leader/Newsletter Editor
Mary Elledge (503) 656-8039
14427 S. Forsythe Rd.
Oregon City, OR 97045
Fax: (503) 656-4420
*Deadline for newsletter is the 1st of each month.
Newsletter Mailing/Newsletter Layout
Erin Plunkett E-mail: [email protected]
*Write for change of address to:
3312 Canyon Lake Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Newsletter Proofreaders
Irene James
Shirlene Guthrie
Crime Victims United
Rick Vaughn (503) 646-0171
www.Crimevictimsunited.org
Portland POMC Website
www.pomc.com/portland/
POMC National Headquarters
4960 Ridge Ave, Suite 2
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Toll Free (888) 818-POMC
National POMC Website
www.pomc.com
Portland Area District Attorneys’ Offices Phone Numbers:
Multnomah County
Washington County
Clackamas County
Yamhill County
Marion County
Columbia County
Clark County, WA
(503) 988-3162
(503) 846-8671
(503) 655-8431
(503) 434-7510
(503) 588-5222
(503) 397-0300
(360) 397-2261
*These DA’s offices contain their own Victims Assistance
departments. You can contact both using these numbers.