In Memory of Gannon Stauch

I took these pictures a few days ago and I guess I've put off posting them because they make me so sad. Gannon Stauch was an 11 year old local boy who was murdered in 2020 by his stepmother, who stabbed, beat and shot him, then fled with his body, which was found under a bridge in Florida. She was tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Local artist Paes 164 recently created this mural in honor of Gannon, painting over a personal favorite mural of mine that depicted Mozart (HERE, in case you're curious). I think it's a worthy replacement.

I don't know what possesses adults to lose control and abuse a defenseless child in any way, shape or form, let alone kill them. It's absolutely senseless. We are meant to nurture and protect children, not destroy them. This terrible crime affected all of us here; the news coverage was relentless and nationwide. Sadly, yet another local mother has recently done the same thing: in December, Kimberlee Singler allegedly murdered two of her three children and badly injured the third one. She then fled to England, where she was soon arrested.

Sadly, there really isn't any justice in my mind for abused and murdered children. You can punish the abuser but the deed is done.