Highland County victims remembered

The Highland County Victim/Witness Program held the a candlelight vigil for victims of crime Tuesday in front of the Highland County Courthouse in commemoration of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. 

The second annual event honored and remembered the victims of crime in Highland County, with the theme of "Reshaping the future, honoring the past."

Program Director Barb Shoemaker recognized her staff members, Teresa Wisecup, Jamie Stapleton and Betty Jackman, saying they have "caring and compassionate hearts" and that they have" been angry at the tragedy and cried at the loss" along with the victims. 

Volunteers were also honored, including John Dodds, Dan Benkiel, Elaine Gilliland, Darlene Smith, Kay Roades, Patty Taylor, Amanda Roades, Kay McCreight, and Becki Branscome. 

The Hillsboro High School choir, directed by David White, sang songs during the event, including "Amazing Grace," during which the more than 50 people in attendance were asked to join in. 

Shoemaker became emotional as she looked over the crowd and saw the first family she was ever assigned when she joined the victim/witness program, along with a family she is currently helping, "who is going through the very same thing."

Saying that she was putting him on the spot, she asked a member of that first family, Chris Theopolis, to come forward to read a poem he had written. 

His daughter, Elizabeth, according to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, was killed in a car crash. In 2009 Jeremy Lansing was convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide in relation to the crash and is currently serving six years in prison. In December, Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the trial court. 

Theopolis said that Shoemaker was "like family." 

"Justice is not enough when you lose a family member," he said, but that the members of the program have been "a blessing."

Theopolis read a poem he wrote on the loss of his daughter, that included the lines, "When words fail, tears have a language of their own ... Take time to say I love you ... so if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today."

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss spoke about the beginnings of the program, and how the courts and laws have changed for victims in the past 40 years. 

Coss said that when he was in law school in the 1970s, the rights of victims were not even mentioned.

"We learned about the defendant's rights, the defendant's rights and the defendant's right," Coss said. 

Now, there are centers for victims' rights across the country, and they are regularly made a part of courtroom procedure, so their voices are heard in the justice system, Coss said.

"They are a very important part of the justice system today," he said.

Coss, who was instrumental in the founding of Highland County's program in 1993 when he was Highland County Prosecutor, said that his wife, Gayle - a former deputy sheriff in Utah - helped him see the need for programs geared toward victims and their rights. 

Coss said he reads each victim impact statement he receives, and allows victims to address the court if they so choose. 

At a time when funding is being cut to county programs, Coss said he encourages area residents to speak to their legislators on the importance of victim/witness programs to ensure that funding is not lost. 

"We need to ensure the progress we've gained is not lost," Coss said. "Certainly, we've come too far to go back."

Sgt. Donnie Barrera of the Highland County Sheriff's Office spoke about how the department has grown to rely on the program, and the good work that they do. 

Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins also spoke, saying that she has seen the impact of the program through her professional work, and in her personal life after her brother was killed in a car crash. 

"Betty Jackman was like a best friend to my parents," Collins said. "She hugged and cried with them. She was truly a godsend."

James Wikstrom, who first learned about the program after his home was burglarized, spoke about how victim advocates helped him and his wife through the very difficult process of waiting through court hearings, and seeing the defendant who ultimately pleaded guilty to charges relating to the burglary. 

The ceremony concluded with a prayer by the Rev. Zedda Myers, and with the lighting of candles and a reading the poem, "The Four Candles." Strong winds were an impediment to keeping the flames lit, but the struggling candles acted as a poignant representation of the poem's message:

The Four Candles, author unknown

The Four Candles burned slowly.
Their Ambiance was so soft you
could hear them speak ...

The first candle said, "I Am Peace, but these days, nobody
wants to keep me lit." Then Peace's flame slowly
diminishes and goes out completely.

The second candle says, "I Am Faith, but these days, I am
no longer indispensable." Then Faith's flame slowly
diminishes and goes out completely.

Sadly the third candle spoke, "I Am Love and I haven't the
strength to stay lit any longer."
"People put me aside and don't understand my
importance. They even forget to love those who are
nearest to them." And waiting no longer, Love goes out completely.

Suddenly...A child enters the room and sees the three
candles no longer burning. The child begins to cry, "Why
are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end."

Then the Fourth Candle spoke gently to the little boy,
"Don't be afraid, for I Am Hope, and while I still burn, we
can re-light the other candles."

With Shining eyes the child took the Candle of Hope and
lit the other three candles.

Never let the Flame of Hope go out of your life.
With Hope, no matter how bad things look and
are ... Peace, Faith and Love can Shine Brightly in our lives.