A Candlelight Vigil for Janet ~ join us

[Jess]

For those of us who will be there in prayer and spirit only, I am looking forward to the first hand accounts.
I will be lighting my candle along with a friend in Hawaii who brought along a special candle on her vacation. She will be stopping to remember Janet.

 

[texasgirl]

Wanted to stop by and say that I too am looking forward to the accounts from those that are able to make it to the vigil tonight. I cannot believe it's been a year already!

Although it's often hard to come in and post, I keep up with this thread the best I can. I appreciate all of you so much for your posts as they keep me updated. Sometimes it's not just a lack of time that keeps me from posting, but Janet's case has always overwhelmed me. I can appreciate those that can stay here day in and day out keeping Janet's memory alive. I am a young mother myself and often it's just too hard to be here.

Today though, I wanted to stop in and let you know that I haven't forgotten. I will light my candle tonight. And, I will pray for justice, Janet's family and friends that love and miss her and especially for Kaiden.

 

[terminatrixator]

Sorry I couldn't be there. I've lit my candles along with my family and friends. Godspeed Justice for Janet and her unborn child!

 

[LTUlegal]

I wish I could've been there, but my candle has been lit all night. I hope that whomever did go to the vigil will report back how it went & who all was there, if ya' know what I mean! My bet is that some bird was :chicken: !! Ya think???

 

[lauriej]

..i also lit candles tonight.........for janet, her baby.........

..it's been a year too long..........

..i pray that 2006 is the year justice is served........

 

[LTUlegal]

One year later...I got a report from someone who was at the vigil that Mr. Nifong gave a very nice speech and was very nice, too. Perhaps he will consider taking this case on. The murderer really should be tried, in my opinion, and there is a strong case. Of course, I'm not a prosecuting attorney, but I play one on t.v.!

 

[guera]

The reports I'm getting is that the vigil was beautiful, well-attended and well-done... but that the bird was conspicuously absent. In fact, most people (media included) were wondering where he was. What, Rave!? You can take off biking at the drop of a hat, but can't make it out for your murdered wife's vigil?! We know that between your luxurious bike shop job and her social security benefits (that you seem happy to collect), you could have scrimped for a plane ticket. That can't look good for you my friend. My guess... you just couldn't stand going when the focus would be entirely on her and Kaiden, and not you at all. Or... you can't stand going back to the site of your own work. Pick your poison.

 

[Annandale1998]

The vigi for Janet last night was BEAUTIFUL. A very heartfelt evening for all who attended. In the Courtyard of the Durham Marriott over 40 people gatehred to remember Janet.
Everyone wore a puple and white ribbon with purple and white hearts sewm on. The cups covering the candles also adorned purple grapes and a purple Tears for Janet CD was passed out to some at the end.

Guest speakers were anyone from Sisters(very hard to handle) to neice, inlaws,old classmates and friends. It was very touching and very tearful. I went along with my family and friends. It was an honor to be there and see just how much her family loves her...misses her...and are constanlty seeking the justice for her.

Because I know the question you all will ask, no Raven was not there. I do not think he was missed and his name and their marriage was not mentioned. It was all about Kaiden and Janet and how wonderful of a mother she was.
A coworker's quote stated how Janet brought Kaiden in to work at 5 months old. She saw how Janet looked at him, and the adoration he had for his mother. Amazed at the connection that they shared in 5 short months. She adored her son.

I asked some simple questions to a friend to which I will not share the question or answer. A simple he was not there. Is as good as it gets.

For those who knew her, it was a very sad day indeed. But a beautiful vigil with beautiful words, for such a beautiful person.

 

[LTUlegal]

The vigi for Janet last night was BEAUTIFUL. A very heartfelt evening for all who attended. In the Courtyard of the Durham Marriott over 40 people gatehred to remember Janet.
Everyone wore a puple and white ribbon with purple and white hearts sewm on. The cups covering the candles also adorned purple grapes and a purple Tears for Janet CD was passed out to some at the end.

Guest speakers were anyone from Sisters(very hard to handle) to neice, inlaws,old classmates and friends. It was very touching and very tearful. I went along with my family and friends. It was an honor to be there and see just how much her family loves her...misses her...and are constanlty seeking the justice for her.

Because I know the question you all will ask, no Raven was not there. I do not think he was missed and his name and their marriage was not mentioned. It was all about Kaiden and Janet and how wonderful of a mother she was.
A coworker's quote stated how Janet brought Kaiden in to work at 5 months old. She saw how Janet looked at him, and the adoration he had for his mother. Amazed at the connection that they shared in 5 short months. She adored her son.

I asked some simple questions to a friend to which I will not share the question or answer. A simple he was not there. Is as good as it gets.

For those who knew her, it was a very sad day indeed. But a beautiful vigil with beautiful words, for such a beautiful person.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us...it makes those of us who couldn't attend, feel a little more like we were there. We certainly were, in spirit.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Sometimes it's not just a lack of time that keeps me from posting, but Janet's case has always overwhelmed me.

I can totally understand what you're saying. I've become overwhelmed lately myself. But I'm also thankful for everyone that is still here. And thank you to everyone who lit candles and to everyone that shares the details of the vigil. I SO wish that I could have been there.

 

[ncgirl]

It was a beautiful experience to attend the vigil. I can appreciate the hard work and efforts of those that organized this event as Janet was acknowledged in a classy, beautiful way. The ribbons were a beautiful tribute to her, the candles were quite lovely when they were all lit, and I think the music, speeches, and loving words from her family were just wonderful. I hope, beyond hope, that these efforts will bring information, bring truth, and bring hard work and effort in order to get the much needed justice for Janet.

 

[ewwwinteresting]

Thanks for sharing the experiences...it sounds like it was absolutely beautiful.

So, were any of raven's family members there? I thought one of the brothers lived on the east coast:waitasec: .

I hope the media has a field day with this case now!

 

[L L & S]

Good evening WSer's. I am writing to you from Charleston West Virginia. Cher and I are on our way home and have pulled in to grab a nights sleep. Driving 19 hours is one day was to much to do on the way home for sure.

The Candlelight Vigil was absolutely beautiful. Annandale was correct, we had over 40 family members and their close friends under the tent and then while the singing began I started counting the many people who were there to support us. I got snatched away to do something for Cher before I could finish counting so I'll tell you this.... I personally counted 298 people and that's before I got as far and the officers and the news crews. It was amazing. I am so proud of Cher and the way she stepped up to take care of the Christiansens and helped them through the very hard time they had getting ready to come down to the vigil.

I am so proud of all the volunteers that helped us put this together and helped spread the word. After the vigil was over we were all so emotionally drained that everyone just went back to their hotels and reflected on the whole event. The singing was so pretty and it just started getting good and dark when we turned on Brianna's song for her Aunt Janet.. I hope that the new extended 10 minute version with the Cello, Violins and singers gets put up on tearsforjanet.com soon. The candles were lit and the pure raw emotion of all of it just glowed.

Janet was introduced to all of us through her loving family and they opened up themselves to all. Each and every one of them told wonderful stories of Janet and made all of us who never had the honor of meeting this beautiful woman feel even closer to her. We sat up in the meeting room before the vigil and they told funny stories about Janet growing up and we told them all about the many members here at Websleuths, LTU, and the many other boards that have been following Janet's story. We told them about the ladies who did the ribbons all the way from California to Kansas to Illinois. We told them about our Canadian supports and about all the people all over the USA and Canada who were at that moment lighting candles too.

Cora Cole-McFadden, the Mayor Pro Tem was a wonderful guest speaker, along with District Attorney, Michael Nifong. Mrs. Christiansen and the family members all spoke and all the talks given by the family members and friends brought tears to everyone's eyes. Janet's niece Clarissa, spoke so eloquently and lovingly of her Aunt Janet.

As far as I know, nobody from the Abaroa family attended the Vigil.

As you can tell I'm rambling.... but I am just so proud of all the people who pitched in to make this such a heartfelt, sad, but beautiful Vigil.

 

[terminatrixator]

Good evening WSer's. I am writing to you from Charleston West Virginia. Cher and I are on our way home and have pulled in to grab a nights sleep. Driving 19 hours is one day was to much to do on the way home for sure.

The Candlelight Vigil was absolutely beautiful. Annandale was correct, we had over 40 family members and their close friends under the tent and then while the singing began I started counting the many people who were there to support us. I got snatched away to do something for Cher before I could finish counting so I'll tell you this.... I personally counted 298 people and that's before I got as far and the officers and the news crews. It was amazing. I am so proud of Cher and the way she stepped up to take care of the Christiansens and helped them through the very hard time they had getting ready to come down to the vigil.

I am so proud of all the volunteers that helped us put this together and helped spread the word. After the vigil was over we were all so emotionally drained that everyone just went back to their hotels and reflected on the whole event. The singing was so pretty and it just started getting good and dark when we turned on Brianna's song for her Aunt Janet.. I hope that the new extended 10 minute version with the Cello, Violins and singers gets put up on tearsforjanet.com soon. The candles were lit and the pure raw emotion of all of it just glowed.

Janet was introduced to all of us through her loving family and they opened up themselves to all. Each and every one of them told wonderful stories of Janet and made all of us who never had the honor of meeting this beautiful woman feel even closer to her. We sat up in the meeting room before the vigil and they told funny stories about Janet growing up and we told them all about the many members here at Websleuths, LTU, and the many other boards that have been following Janet's story. We told them about the ladies who did the ribbons all the way from California to Kansas to Illinois. We told them about our Canadian supports and about all the people all over the USA and Canada who were at that moment lighting candles too.

Cora Cole-McFadden, the Mayor Pro Tem was a wonderful guest speaker, along with District Attorney, Michael Nifong. Mrs. Christiansen and the family members all spoke and all the talks given by the family members and friends brought tears to everyone's eyes. Janet's niece Clarissa, spoke so eloquently and lovingly of her Aunt Janet.

As far as I know, nobody from the Abaroa family attended the Vigil.

As you can tell I'm rambling.... but I am just so proud of all the people who pitched in to make this such a heartfelt, sad, but beautiful Vigil.

LL & S, thank you so much for your wonderful account of the vigil. Do you know if there are going to be pictures of the vigil posted at tearsforjanet.com?

I'm very interested in the song tearsforjanet.com and is there a way for me to get the extended version or is it going to be posted at tears?

My family and friends all lit candles and I so wish I could have been there. I just got home from LA and just got the chance to log in. Next weekend I will be in NC and if there is any pictures you would like me to take, please pm me and I will be happy to take a few pictures for you.

Thank you to all those that worked hard on the vigil and to all the family and friends of Janet, thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Trixie

 

[WantAnswers]

LL&S, thanks for your notes on the vigil. Did the Mayor Pro Tem or the DA have anything to say regarding the investigation?

 

[JustJax]

I attended the vigil as well and Cora Cole-McFadden's speech was powerful and heart-wrenching at the same time. She had lost a family member to murder over 10 years ago. Nothing new was revealed about the investigation into Janet and her baby's murder, but she and DA Nifong did stress that this case is still being actively investigated, LE still very much devoted to an arrest and conviction.
Personally, the speech that really got to me was one of Janet's young nieces.
This tinly little girl that could not even see over the podium spoke with such courage and conviction I was just rivited to her...in awe of her eloquence in such a sorrowful, tragic situation.
There were at least 4 news outlets that I saw that video taped the entire event, but I don't see anything up yet, I'm sure it will follow.
The 11PM news had the vigil as their top story as we were sitting in the lounge after the vigil with some friends of Janet's, and we all hugged each other and cried. Got to see it again on a few stations in the morning as well.

 

[caffeinatd]

My plans to attend got ripped apart by my 12 yo having emergency surgery at 6pm Saturday...I did go outside of Duke and light a candle i had in my purse and thought of all...I also missed it on the news, and have not seen anything in the papers, but then I have been out of the loop since Sat. Afternoon...Glad to see it was well attended..

 

[lauriej]

..thank you so much to those that were able to attend the vigil and share with those of us that could not.......

..it sounds like it was all that we could have imagined and more............i am so happy to hear of the turn-out, not surprised by it at all, janet was such a loving person..

..i'm very thrilled that the DA was present, now he definitely has direct knowledge of the case..................and has come to know janet..........surely an arrest is in the very near future...

..i was honestly SHOCKED that not a single abaroa , much less raven, was there---------his own murdered wife & baby's vigil--------and he doesn't come ?????????? i can't even begin to verbalize my thoughts on that.......

..again---------------it's MUCH appreciated to read the posts of those that were there--------------thank you.

 

[terminatrixator]

My plans to attend got ripped apart by my 12 yo having emergency surgery at 6pm Saturday...I did go outside of Duke and light a candle i had in my purse and thought of all...I also missed it on the news, and have not seen anything in the papers, but then I have been out of the loop since Sat. Afternoon...Glad to see it was well attended..

{{{{{{{Caffeinatd}}}}}}}} I'm so sorry about your child being sick and having surgery. I hope (s)he is doing well. How sweet of you to light a candle in the midst of your own emergency. I feel bad I couldn't make it to the vigil myself, but I did receive many messages from my family and friends that they lit candles, as I did.

I haven't found really any stories online, and read that there were four news crews there....I can't wait until those that attended the vigil can give us more details and hopefully we can see some pictures.

Take care caffeinatd and again, I hope your child is doing much better.

 

[caffeinatd]

Thanks Trix...just an appendix, and she is doing fine...back to school tomorrow I hope!. I have not really seen anything about the Vigil in the papers on on the news, quite disappointing to me.