SPOKANE, Wash. – September 25th is a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. On Thursday, detectives, prosecutors, chaplains and the families of victims all gathered to both pay respects and make new connections.
“I know it’s stressful to (our homicide) investigators, but I know it’s work that they wouldn’t trade for anything,” Sheriff John Nowels told a crowd at the gathering. “We sometimes make the statement that in those moments we’re doing God’s work. We do it with pride, we do it willingly, as tough as it is because we know there are survivors who are depending on us.”
Survivors like the many loved ones of murder victim Dylan McCorkle.
“(He was) fun, adventurous, outgoing,” said Shawnea Couch of her baby brother. “He was the life of the party. We were all really close, all of us. We were raised in our grandmother’s home. Always had each other’s back.”
McCorkle’s family could go on and on. Their precious memories of him are all they have left.
“What’s the last thing you said…I love you,” Couch said.
The man police believe murdered McCorkle is behind bars, but even that has done little to dull the pain.
“No matter what it’s not going to bring him back, it won’t be the justice I need because I need him and I’m never going to get that,” Couch said.
It’s a continued state of agony only those who have lived it can ever understand.
“It’s very important to have that peer support,” she said. “I didn’t just lose my brother that day. I lost a part of myself. I’ve been trying for months to figure it out and so I’m hoping to get with other people and build myself back up.”
Thursday’s National Day of Remembrance event at the Spokane County Courthouse did put some of those people in her life. She says she heard about it from her therapist and was eager to check it out.
After the event, she connected with the sister and cousin of another murder victim named David Collins Meyer. He was killed out of state, but his family lives locally. They exchanged hugs and then contact information and hope to connect with even more families out there.
Their stories of loss are different but their message to our community is the same.
“Life is short,” Couch said. “You never know the last time you’re going to see somebody. Do the things, take the pictures. Don’t rush. Be present in the moment.”
Couch is working to create a local support group for families who have lost a loved one to murder. If you’d like to learn more to get involved, search ‘Those Left Behind’ on Facebook.
