Community Rallies Behind Murdered Greenville Teen's Family
GREENVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - Police say as many as 400 people marched Saturday to show their support for the family of a kidnap-murder victim.
16-year-old Alicia Moore was taken after she left a school bus just a few blocks from her home one week ago Friday. Her body was found Tuesday in rural Van Zandt County. On Saturday people from all over Greenville marched in her memory.
"It means a whole lot, it means a whole lot," said Alica's mother, Arthea Moore. She was grateful for a community-wide show of support for her family and her daughter.
"Forget about all the negatives that's out there just think about the good things about her," she said. "That she was sweet, quiet, a homebody; she didn't bother hardly anyone."
But marchers were bothered by Alicia's fate. "The world's just crazy," said Camellia Capetillo, who worries there are people who will snatch anyone of any age.
"They need to get the buddy system back where kids are together, said Capetillo. "Somebody knows where somebody's supposed to be, have somebody there with you. Parents sit out and watch the kids get off the bus regardless of their age."
On Friday Greenville police released photos showing Alicia leaving her bus in hopes the vehicle behind it can be identified for possible witnesses. On Saturday marchers went to the bus stop, where a shrine for the teen continues to grow.
"This is a march for Alicia; she has a voice through us," Cedric Fisher told the crowd.
Julianna Castro and her children looked on in silence. "As a mother of four it's just nerve-wracking, it's sickening. And hopefully this will wake a lot of people up." She added, "When it happens right there, right in your own community, it's just an eye-opener."
Greenville police were out in force for the event; extra people working overtime for crowd control...even as investigators continued their search for whomever murdered Alicia.
While some in Greenville were critical of initial police response, march organizer Rev. Phillip Williams of the St. John's Missionary Baptist Church says everyone needs to be involved...every day.
"They [police] do as much as they could, but if we help, maybe it can help them better," Williams said. "You know what I'm saying? We all try to put the blame on the police, but there are few of them and many of us."
Even as officers continued to build bridges by teaching kids and teens how to stay safe, the sad fact for Alicia's family is that there have been no arrests. "No, there's no new leads, no news information that we know of," said Alicia's mother adding, "Very frustrating."
