Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND – During the week of Sept. 28 – Oct. 2 43 silhouettes of domestic violence murder victims could be found all around Worland. On Saturday Oct. 3 all the silhouettes were brought together for the Wyoming Silent Witness Ceremony at the Worland Community Center.

Seeing the single silhouettes around town created a feeling of sadness but seeing all the silhouettes together gave a profound and intense feeling. One could almost feel the beseeching eyes from the silhouettes and almost hear the pleas, remember me, remember my story. The feeling was so intense that some people had to leave the building to compose themselves before returning.

People from all over Wyoming attended the ceremony which began after the procession, where family members, community members and members of the Bikers Against Child Abuse organization carried the silhouettes from the Worland Community Center Complex north on 12th street to Big Horn Avenue, east on Big Horn Avenue where they turned onto 10th street. It went south on 10th street to Culbertson Avenue and back to the Worland Community Center Complex. The procession was given a police escort with bagpiper Hank Stueckler leading the way.

After the procession, the ceremony was started with a welcome from Crisis Prevention and Response Center Executive Director Jeanne Core and a prayer by Mount Calvary Church Pastor Ed Lujan.

Two silhouettes were inducted into the exhibit. The first was for Julie Richards, who was murdered in 2012 by her husband in the K-Mart parking lot in Cody with a screwdriver. Her daughter spoke about the how wonderful and full of life her mother was and the lasting devastation in her life from her mother's murder.

The second silhouette was for Cassidy Anne King who was not murdered but committed suicide in 2014 because of the abuse from her husband. A family member spoke about her (Cassidy's) story and how her children will not have their mother with them for the important events in their lives, such as turning 16, getting married or the birth of their children.

After the inductions, Washakie County Attorney's Office Victim/Witness Coordinator Bob Vines and Washakie County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer Colleen Borovatz gave roll call. For each of the 68 victims from Wyoming who were murdered (including one suicide since 1985), their name was called and a candle was lit. When all the names had been called and all the candles lit, Worland Police Department Sergeant Brandon Masters called for a moment of silence.

The keynote speaker was Mark Wynn, an international lecturer and 21-year member of the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department.

Wynn spoke of his own personal experience with domestic violence. He also commented on the ways that he has been working on changing the way domestic violence is viewed and handled. He stated how impressed he was and rejuvenated to see so many men at the ceremony as most victims are women and children. "I'm very glad to see so many men here. Share the stories of these murder victims with men when you are with other men," Wynn stated.

Wynn also explained that it is not just the victim that is affected by domestic violence. He stressed the effects on the children and how their development is affected. He mentioned the officers that are killed due to domestic violence, and that domestic violence has a snowball effect that cannot be ignored.

To commemorate all the Silent Witnesses and to remember and honor all those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, an engraved bench will be placed at the Washakie County Courthouse.

The following is an excerpt from The Silent Witness Initiative Book, it is a part of the introduction to the stories of the victims provided by the families:

Remember My Name By Kimberly A. Collins:

"... My story must be told, must remain in conscious memory so my daughters won't cry my tears or follow my tortured legacy."