5/15/2012--Sentencing

[Kamille]

Candlelight vigil held in Tori Stafford's hometown

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Saturday May. 19, 2012 7:40 PM CST


Mourners held a candlelight vigil Saturday evening for slain schoolgirl Victoria Stafford in her hometown of Woodstock, Ont.

The vigil began at 7:30 p.m. in the Zellers and Foodland parking lot on Dundas Street.

(video at link)

http://regina.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...tafford-woodstock-120519/20120519/?hub=Regina

 

[justicefortori]

Just got home from the vigil. Drove from Toronto to Woodstock. Absolutley beautiful..... Very glad I was able to be there. Rodney and Tara released doves in honor of Tori, and hundreds of people dressed in purple releasing purple ballons in the sky. I dont have words for how moved I was. For those who couldnt make it, I took some photos and videos of the dove & ballon release. Will post them shortly.

We will never forget you Victoria <3

 

[swedie]

&#8220;She managed to reach out to millions and millions and millions of people with her tiny little smile and personality,&#8221; Tori&#8217;s mother, Tara McDonald, told the crowd gathered department store parking lot on Saturday night. &#8220;I hope nobody ever, ever forgets her for a second.&#8221;

At Saturday&#8217;s vigil, Tori&#8217;s father, Rodney Stafford, thanked the crowd for showing the same support for his daughter as they did three years ago

&#8220;The only difference is she&#8217;s home now, been laid to rest, and Woodstock, yes we did get justice,&#8221; he said.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/19/tori-staffords-family-holds-vigil-in-her-honour

 

[crazyladi]

I was at the vigil tonight as well. We also visited her graves site. I met a bunch of people that went to school with Rodney and Tara as well as people that befriended Tara throughout the trial. I thought that I would get peace from this <modsnip>.

 

[crazyladi]

I feel like the downer here.

The vigil really was amazing. The dove release was unexpected but awesome to say the least to start off such a beautiful farewell. People in woodstock are very friendly and everyone greeted us and talked to us like we knew each other. It was sad to see some kids crying no doubt friends of Tori.

There was a song written for Tori and it was beautiful. During the song the balloons were released and it really was powerful.

TM and RS went up and said couple of words then the pastor of the church I am assuming the one Tori went to.

It was a great send off to Tori and I was extremely touched by how amazing the people of woodstock are.

The bikers showed up and put purple balloons on the back of their bikes it was really good to see a small community come together like one big family.

I was truly touched today.

 

[crazyladi]

If the evidence supports the rumour, then it may be true. If there is evidence that contradicts the rumour, then it can't be true. Is there any evidence that contradicts the rumour?

When landscape architect Joanna Yeates went missing from her home in England, people speculated that she may have been held for days because her body was found perfectly preserved in the snow several days after she went missing. It turned out that according to the suspect's activities, she must have been killed the night she disappeared.

Is it possible that we have been withheld information because of TLM publication ban? Isnt that still on until the 30 days is up?

 

[crazyladi]

Even if McClintic's entire statement has not been released ... we still know the sequence of events and timelines surrounding the murder.

Do we really? Some reason I just dont think we do. I dont know why I just feel this way. None of the case made any sense at all, bizarre and out there when it came to all the key players.

I really dont know what to think anymore.

 

[otto]

No alibi witness for Rafferty was introduced during trial, but his cell phone records would tell the story of where he was.

During questioning of McClintic, she was repeatedly asked where they took Victoria after the assault ... McClintic insisted that they drove to one location where Victoria was assaulted/murdered and they left her under a pile of rocks. Victoria was found under that pile of rocks, exactly where McClintic said she would be ... exactly in the location where Rafferty was using his phone at the time of the abduction/murder. There's nothing more to it. If there was more to it, the evidence would have been introduced during trial.

 

[crazyladi]

I will check back in tomorrow and see if the Rumor is allowed. If its rumor it shouldnt matter right?

 

[swedie]

I'm going to take a much-needed break from WS and from this case. You all rock; take care of yourselves.

Enjoy your break away Kittymama. It's been a long, grueling three years and now we have justice for Tori. Everyone can sigh some relief now knowing these two evil demons aren't going anywhere but where they belong for a long, long time. Take care Kittymama and it's been great sleuthing with you Dear. <3 :blowkiss::heartluv::grouphug:

 

[brighidin]

I will check back in tomorrow and see if the Rumor is allowed. If its rumor it shouldnt matter right?

Hi Crazyladi

I think you can post rumours as long as you indicate clearly that it is, indeed, a rumour. However, I can see why you would be hesitant.

What you can do is alert on your post or PM a mod about it. Salem and nursebeeme have been following this case and i think they will be able to provide some guidance as to how to proceed.

Thanks to you and the others who attended the vigil.

 

[brighidin]

Just got home from the vigil. Drove from Toronto to Woodstock. Absolutley beautiful..... Very glad I was able to be there. Rodney and Tara released doves in honor of Tori, and hundreds of people dressed in purple releasing purple ballons in the sky. I dont have words for how moved I was. For those who couldnt make it, I took some photos and videos of the dove & ballon release. Will post them shortly.

We will never forget you Victoria <3

Thank you for attending and for thinking of us on Websleuths!

 

[otto]

I will check back in tomorrow and see if the Rumor is allowed. If its rumor it shouldnt matter right?

Right ... at the vigil memorial, I heard a rumour that ____. Could it be true?

 

[Tahorn]

Great Pictures. She was a lovely girl.
RIP sweet little one.

 

[brighidin]

Its so neat how Tori looked like both her parents. In the middle picture of the top row, she really favours Rodney. In the first picture on the bottom row, she resembles Tara.

Such a lovely, joy-filled sweetie. I hate the two <modsnips> who took her away!

 

[otto]

Its so neat how Tori looked like both her parents. In the middle picture of the top row, she really favours Rodney. In the first picture on the bottom row, she resembles Tara.

Such a lovely, joy-filled sweetie. I hate the two <modsnips> who took her away!

I thought she looked like her grandmother on her father's side.

 

[brighidin]

There have been so many rumours, insinuations, lies, nothing would surprise me about this case anymore. Being as it's something we haven't heard about, it's probably just someone making up more lies and rumours because they don't feel there's enough BS, kwim. We have been through all the scenarios, assumptions, theories, possibilities and if it was important enough, it would have came out during the last three years or the trial. AND if it was important enough to make a difference on the verdict, for sure it would have come forth. Something so important just doesn't go on the wayside kwim and JMHO.

BBM
I don't know about that. I had never heard of this missing girl before, but apparently this guy confessed and took the police out one night to show them where he left her body. The police didn't take notes and her mother didn't know anything about this until a documentary film maker told her.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/18/christine-harron-hanover.html

I'm not saying that i think this rumour might have legs or not. I suspect not, but, things are often held back, dismissed, what have you. Probably more than we know.

 

[otto]

BBM
I don't know about that. I had never heard of this missing girl before, but apparently this guy confessed and took the police out one night to show them where he left her body. The police didn't take notes and her mother didn't know anything about this until a documentary film maker told her.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/18/christine-harron-hanover.html

I'm not saying that i think this rumour might have legs or not. I suspect not, but, things are often held back, dismissed, what have you. Probably more than we know.

There was no confession in this case. Of the two parties involved in the abduction, rape and mruder of Victoria, one confessed and the male co-conspirator pretended that he was innocent. The jury found him guilty. When it came down to it, they both admitted participation in the crime, but Raferty claims that he was an innocent bystander. That's simplly not true.

Rumours have to be validated within the context of the evidence. Evidence is that Rafferty woke up at home and played the oblivious duffus that morning and for a few weeks until his arrest.

 

[BorgQueen]

Its so neat how Tori looked like both her parents. In the middle picture of the top row, she really favours Rodney. In the first picture on the bottom row, she resembles Tara.

Such a lovely, joy-filled sweetie. I hate the two <modsnips> who took her away!

I agree, I have always felt that she looks exactly like both of her parents. That has always stood out to me.
Beautiful girl...

 

[littlebirdie]

Just sharing my heartfelt thanks to the WS members who have shared about the vigil and thinking of us all here. I grew up in that area and now live across country but was definitely there in heart and spirit. :heartbeat: