GUILTY IL - Mya Lyons, 9, stabbed to death, Chicago, 15 July 2008

[Texas Mist]

Bumping for Mya.

Still no news that I can find on how the investigation is going.

 

[Salem]

The father of a 9-year-old girl who was murdered has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Metra.
He claims the overgrown weeds made it a prime spot for her murder. The article also says Mya is buried in Burr Oaks Cemetary. Hopefully she's still resting in peace.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6915125

I say good for Mya's dad!!! I'm happy to hear this and glad it brings new attention to the case. Mya's case went cold as soon as LE could not pin it on her dad. They looked at one other person, iirc - a teen that lived on the same street.

It's my opinion that LE did not work this case very hard. They went for the easy stuff and when it didn't pan out, they couldn't be bothered to do any more. That may be an unfair assessment, but it sure didn't look like LE did much to solve this one.

Salem

 

[mycroft]

I read over this thanks to the bumps and was embarrassed that I'd never heard of this case. What was the conclusive finding on the nature of the attack?

Isn't there a Major Media Figure in that town that I could see becoming interested in this? She could package that into something about what's happening to the children there.

 

[Texas Mist]

bumping for Mya....maybe Jahmeshia Conner's case will shine some light on Mya's.

So sad she's had no justice yet.

 

[Salem]

Thanks for the bump Texas. I wish something would happen in this case. Most specifically, I wish they would catch the dirtbag that killed Mya.

Prayers for Mya and her family,

Salem

PS - Mycroft - if you think you know someone that would do a story on Mya, please ask them or let me know who and I will ask them. This little girl needs justice.

ETA: all those emails we sent and NOT a word back! So sad!

 

[angelmom]

I say good for Mya's dad!!! I'm happy to hear this and glad it brings new attention to the case. Mya's case went cold as soon as LE could not pin it on her dad. They looked at one other person, iirc - a teen that lived on the same street.

It's my opinion that LE did not work this case very hard. They went for the easy stuff and when it didn't pan out, they couldn't be bothered to do any more. That may be an unfair assessment, but it sure didn't look like LE did much to solve this one.

Salem

While I agree that LE didn't seem to push very hard on this, I think Mya's dad bears some of the responsibility himself. Why have we STILL not had an interview to share the timeline? Why have we STILL not heard what happened in that alley?

Perhaps LE is working but quietly. For all we know, they have a suspect but cannot gather enough evidence without the support of the family. With all the inconsistent stories we heard, maybe LE has heard even more.

LE has the responsibility of solving crimes, but citizens have the responsibility to assist when and where we can. If this family would really like more publicity on Mya's case, all it would take is a few interviews and some sweet pictures of this beautiful girl.

Families who complain about the lack of publicity need to look at their own actions - not to say that there aren't many, many who try and can't get it, but there are some who have the media asking (like this case) and don't get any answers. There is a case in Atlanta like this where the family is absolutely not involved (they are all out of town) but refuse all interviews. If you are going to do that then you can't complain about the lack of public interest.

 

[Salem]

angelmom - you make good points. I think Mya's dad backed off because LE was looking at him as the perp. We all know that is LE's job. They need to look at Mya's dad and either rule him in or rule him out. However, I can understand that it was uncomfortable for Mya's dad to be under the microscope. I can't remember now whether he took a poly or not.

And I also agree that Metra had very little or no responsibility for Mya's murder. I was glad to see Mya's dad bring the lawsuit though because either way, it put Mya's name back out there.

I do believe that Mya's mother has sought publicity for Mya's death. I don't have proof of that. Iirc, we had a relative or close friend posting here for awhile, but she seems to have gone now.

I do hope that justice is served on behalf of Mya someday.

Salem

 

[SuziQ]

Bumping up for Mya

 

[reen]

Bumping up for Mya

Thank you, SuziQ, for bringing this back up. I'd never heard of it.

Was there ever any report of what happened after the work crews (NOT the CPD, lord help us all if they can't find a 6 inch knife in an area the size of an alley!) found and LE processed the knife? Why no more information on this case after so long?

 

[Salem]

I think the reason why is because LE wants to pin it on the dad and the evidence isn't leading them there. So... they don't know which way to go?

It's the only thing I can think of anyway. Maybe it is because she is a poor child from the wrong side of the tracks?

Very, very frustrating!

Salem

 

[lizzybeth]

Yes, thank you for bumping this case up.

 

[Belinda]

What an absolute outrage that this murderer has not been caught. This poor baby was brutally, brutally slain and the police and the media don't give a damn. This is not acceptable. There has to be some way to light a fire under LE to move on this. There must be justice for Mya. She deserves so much better than this.

 

[Cubby]

July 14, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A prayer vigil was held Wednesday night in memory of a 9-year-old girl found stabbed to death two years ago.

Mya Lyons was visiting her father for the summer when she was killed. Lyons' father found her lying in an alley about a half-block from his home in the 8400-block of South Gilbert Court.

Very short article. at link.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7555469

 

[Cubby]

9-Year-Old Girl's Murder Unsolved 2 Years Later

Two years after a 9-year-old girl was found brutally stabbed to death in an alley outside her father's Auburn-Gresham neighborhood home, the murder of Mya Lyons remains unsolved.

Mya's father, Richard Lyons, found her body in on the night of July 14, 2008, in the alley behind the 8400 block of Gilbert Court. Mya lived in Addison and was visiting her father for the summer.

A knife that appeared to be bloody was found in the alley two days after Mya's funeral.

Later, a search warrant was served at Richard Lyons' home, and his van was towed away by police. But he was never named as a suspect or charged with any crime.

A year ago, Mya's mother, Ericka Barnes, told CBS 2 she thought someone would be arrested within days for the murder.

"When is it going to be my turn? My daughter to be at peace, when is our justice going to come?" Barnes said last year.

full article at link:

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/mya.lyons.case.2.1804501.html

 

[lizzybeth]

That poor, poor mother. When WILL there be justice for Mya? On a positive note, I'm glad the family is holding vigils for Mya. At least it keeps the locals reminded of the case.

 

[Lovejac]

What a sad, sad story!

I wonder if the forensic astrologers will do a chart on this? I will look for Mya's date and place of birth along with any confirmed, timed events ( such as date and time last seen, or date and time of 911 call, etc).

If anyone has those handy can you please post them? I have 3 hungry boys that are ready for breakfast!

 

[lizzybeth]

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28294646


I found some information. Mya was found by her father at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2008. Mya was pronounced dead at 2:10 a.m.

Still looking for the rest of the information.

 

[lizzybeth]

Richard Lyons told police he found his daughter’s body shortly after he realized she had slipped out of his house around 11 p.m. on July 14th.

http://kathmanduk2.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/the-unsolved-murder-of-little-mya-lyons/

 

[lizzybeth]

Sorry, I haven't been able to find a birth date. I guess it would have been 1999, but can't find the month and day.

 

[Salem]

Cubby - thanks so much for the new articles. I pray for Mya often and her family. I wish that something would happen in this case. I pray that LE did get DNA from Mya and they have at least put it in the databank so that when her murderer does something else, they can bust him/her.

Salem