Crime Victims’ Awareness Marked in O.C.

GOSHEN – Victim families, members of law enforcement and elected officials held a vigil in Goshen for local Orange County crime victims Tuesday evening, as part of National Crime Victim’s Week, which runs from April 8th through the 14th.

Each year, victims and victims’ families remember those who lost their lives as the result of a criminal act. It has become a place of solace and safety for impacted individuals to speak openly about their loved ones and their experiences.

This year, the theme was Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said the idea was to make sure that all victims are aware that there is support within the community.

“Some victims are hard to reach. Some victims don’t want to acknowledge their loss, or the fact that they were a victim and it’s to make sure that they’re reached, and that whatever their needs are, they’re met,” said Hoovler.

Among those victims were Jason Exley, 28, and his family. Exley was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in Walden on March 4th, 2017.

Exley’s mother Kathleen Hamrick Exley, and sister Grace Exley, were among victim families who spoke during Tuesday evening’s vigil. Exley’s mother explained that because of the actions of a drunk driver, she and her family have been irreparably changed by that trauma.

“I will never be a grandmother to Jason’s children,” Kathleen said. “Because of the DD’s (drunk driver’s) decision to drink and drive, generations have been wiped out. I will never see him get married. I will never hear him laugh again, or see him make others laugh. I will never see my son again. I am only left with ashes, a roadside cross, photographs, skateboard videos I’m so grateful for and my memories.”

Other victims who were recognized were Alexis Olivia Harris, who was beaten to death by an abusive boyfriend and Helen Mills, an elderly woman who was strangled by drug-addled intruders in her home.

Orange County Sheriff Carl Dubois said it is important for the community to come together on this occasion to show support for victims of crimes, especially those who have lost loved ones and “to raise awareness, to show support and to give them some kind of solace in their loss- I think it’s good the community does that.”

A tree was planted outside of the Orange County Government Center in Goshen in memory of victims.