RIP Evelynn Grace Smith ~ Stop Domestic Violence 's Interests
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The sole purpose of this site is to show Evelynn's tragic death was not without purpose. It is somewhat graphic in detail which makes it difficult to read, but domestic violence never paints a pretty picture. Evelynn's happy times remain in the hearts ??? of those who loved and knew her. This site goes beyond that. It is to show through Evelynn's and Fernando's own words, how the love Fernando had for Evelynn was not the love God speaks of in the Bible. What does the Bible say about love?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
When tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry The way you did today, While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready, In heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, It almost seemed impossible That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized, That this could never be, For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, My heart ? was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity, And all I've promised you. Today your life on earth is past, But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last, And since each day's the same way There's no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful, So trusting and so true. Though there were times you did some things You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven And now at last you're free. So won't you come and take my hand And share my life with me?"
So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart, For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
by David M. Romano
The Elephant in the Room
There's an elephant in the room. It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it. Yet we squeeze by with "How are you?" and "I'm fine" ... And a thousand other forms of trivial chatter. We talk about the weather. We talk about work. We talk about everything else - except the elephant in the room.
There's an elephant in the room. We all know it is there. We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together. It is constantly on our minds. For, you see, it is a very big elephant. It has hurt us all. But we do not talk about the elephant in the room. Oh, please say her name. Oh, please say "Evelynn" again.
Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room. For if we talk about her death, Perhaps we can talk about her life. Can I say "Evelynn" to you and not have you look away? For if I cannot, then you are leaving me Alone ... In a room ... With an elephant.
Adapted from the poem "The Elephant in the Room"by Terry Kettering
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Evelynn Grace Smith
Love is Blind As Illustrated By The Writings of Evelynn and Fernando
Evelynn’s blind love ended in her tragic death. She saw the signs, but the signs were blinded by her love. Evelynn left behind her words and the words of her killer. As I read through these writings I have to say chills ran through me. Evelynn knew the danger but then this love continued to put blinders on her. How many others like Evelynn disregard the warning signs yet keep going back thinking things will be different…I pray that anyone who discerns the cries of this young lady and the love/hate relationship that was transpiring between them will see with a clear vision. I must add "Remember this, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to his purpose.” Roman 8:28. Though this story appears to have a tragic ending in reality the ending is quite the opposite. You see the pain and hurt that brought Evelynn back home brought her back to the Lord. The Lord was waiting as Evelynn ran to him and he embraced her wrapping his arms around her. For you see the next day her life was taken but her killer could not take her soul. Her soul had been purified by the blood of Jesus. Evelynn had profiled the Lord’s purpose with her writings. These words are painful to read but she left a window to her world of abuse. Way to often we fail to see clearly for our vision is distorted and we have blind spots that cover up the things we don’t want to face. Evelynn wanted to believe that things would be different. Yes, things were different, now Evelynn was protected by the blood of Jesus. In John 11:25-26 Jesus said. "The man who believes in me will live even though he dies, and anyone who is alive and believes in me will never die at all.” Fernando took the life from her physical body but not the eternal life that was promised to her by Jesus. I have to say knowing God’s word is true I get great comfort and peace. Evelynn will never die, she will always live. I pray by sharing Evelynn’s story that God’s purpose for her life will serve him well. If anyone is experiencing mental or physical abuse, get out early and don’t look back. I know these words left behind are words to help protect others from blind love.
EVELYNN'S GOODBYE POEM AFTER HE BEAT HER AND SHE LEFT NORTH CAROLINA
FERNANDO'S LETTER TO EVELYNN TELLING HER HOW MUCH HE LOVED AND MISSED HER. HE THEN CAME TO WASHINGTON STATE WHERE HE TOOK HER LIFE.
Heroes
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
But, domestic violence occurs every day...
If you wish to add someone whose life was lost to domestic violence to this Memorial Slideshow, please contact me at:
contact@justiceforbarbara.com
I know the descriptions of what happened to each of these victims are very graphic and, downright, disturbing...this is intentional My goal is to put an actual FACE (or, should I say, faces) on Domestic Violence. It is one thing to read the reports, data, and statistics, and to hear about the deadly consequences, concerning domestic violence. But, sometimes, seeing is believing...
A Must See Domestic Violence Video
NOT FOR VIEWING BY CHILDREN...PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED
Logan is a 12 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station...well you have to hear it for yourself, his words have wisdom beyond his years. Since airing the audio of the phone call and now the making of the video clip, it has taken on a life of its own. People are forwarding it all over the world. We encourage you to share the love of Christ with anyone you can.
RIP Evelynn Grace Smith ~ Stop Domestic Violence 's Blurbs
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Fernando Trejo-Ramirez, 19, and his interpreter, Marta Reyes, attend court Wednesday. He is suspected of killing a 20-year-old woman Tuesday at the Select Inn downtown. Thomas Clouse Staff writer February 24, 2005 Stabbed to death in a motel bathtub, 20-year-old Evelynn Grace Smith was then moved to the queen-sized bed in Room 118 at the Select Inn. Her killer folded her arms across her body and placed a Spanish-language Bible on her chest before covering her with a blanket, investigators said in court documents filed Wednesday. Fernando Trejo-Ramirez, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Tuesday stabbing. District Court Judge Sara Derr ordered Trejo-Ramirez held on a $1 million bond during his first court hearing Wednesday. Spokane police Sgt. Joe Peterson said Trejo-Ramirez told police Tuesday morning that Smith, who graduated in 2003 from Lewis and Clark High School, was his girlfriend. "Was this a stalking incident where he just arrived here and was seeking her out? That was one of our first concerns," Deputy Chief Al Odenthal said. "But she apparently met him at the bus station willingly." Smith and at least one other person, whom police would not identify, were in the car with Smith when she picked Trejo-Ramirez up at the bus station. The car then dropped off the young couple, who first met in North Carolina, at the motel at 1420 W. Second Ave. Motel manager Mary Harrington said Tuesday that Smith seemed happy to be reunited with Trejo-Ramirez when she signed in and paid for the room at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Police don't know what happened until Trejo-Ramirez called 911 at 1:52 a.m. Tuesday saying he was having trouble breathing and had lost a lot of blood, Detective Don Giese wrote in his report. Spokane Fire Department paramedics responded to the Select Inn and found Trejo-Ramirez wandering around the motel parking lot. "He told medics that he had attempted suicide and had fresh incision wounds to each arm as well as the right side of his neck," Giese wrote. Some minutes later, he was transported to Deaconess Medical Center "where he disclosed that the victim was dead in Room 118 of the Select Inn." Officers responded there and found Smith dead. She was lying on her back on the queen-sized bed and was covered by a blanket, Giese said in court records. "The blanket was pulled down and revealed that the victim was unclothed with her arms crossed over her chest and a Spanish version Bible on her chest," Giese wrote. Smith had deep cuts on the inside of both arms and her neck. Officers secured the room and backed out to wait for the search warrant that was signed about 7 a.m. Tuesday. Detectives then searched the room for clues. "It appeared that the victim's wounds were inflicted while she was in the bathtub," Giese wrote. "She was moved from the bathtub to the bed and placed in the position in which she was found by officers." After his arrest, Trejo-Ramirez initially talked with police. He told officers that he was an illegal immigrant from Mexico, but his status remains unclear, Odenthal said. "The defendant told SPD officers that he and the victim decided to commit suicide together and that each one caused their own injuries," Giese wrote. However, Dr. Marco Ross, of the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office, told Giese that Smith's wounds did not appear to be self-inflicted. "Dr. Ross indicated that the wound to the neck was fatal," Giese wrote in his report. "Dr. Ross also indicated that it would have been highly unlikely for the victim to cause these injuries to herself." After Trejo-Ramirez received stitches for his cuts, police transported him to the Public Safety Building for questioning. However, he refused to answer any more questions, Peterson said. Giese later reached Trejo-Ramirez's family in North Carolina, according to his report. "Follow-up investigation revealed that the defendant called family members after the victim was dead and told them that he'd killed her after an argument," Giese wrote. Police have not found the weapon, believed to be a knife, used to kill Smith and injure Trejo-Ramirez, Deputy Chief Odenthal said. Smith had returned to Spokane after living for some months in North Carolina. Odenthal said he didn't know how she met Trejo-Ramirez or what kind of relationship they had. Investigators learned about some sort of domestic violence report between Smith and Trejo-Ramirez in North Carolina but hadn't obtained any details. It's not even clear if a report was filed, Odenthal said. "Where they have been and what transpired will take more time to figure out," Odenthal said. A man who said he was Smith's grandfather e-mailed The Spokesman-Review on Wednesday and wrote that Smith was born in Galveston, Texas, graduated from high school in Spokane and then moved to Hickory, N.C. "Evelynn was a very sweet and lovely girl," Alexander L. Smith wrote in the e-mail. He said he and his wife had never met the suspect "and know nothing about this man. We believe she had left this man in Hickory and was looking forward to attending college. He apparently followed her to Spokane where she was murdered."
Man pleads guilty to 20-year-old's murder From Staff Reports July 6, 2006 A man accused of stabbing a 20-year-old Spokane woman in a hotel bathroom pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Wednesday. Fernando Trejo-Ramirez, 20, is charged with the premeditated killing of Evelynn Grace Smith on Feb. 21 in a room at the Select Inn, 1420 W. Second Ave. He will be sentenced July 20 in Spokane County Superior Court. The plea agreement recommends a 25-year sentence, deputy prosecutor Rachel Sterett said. Trejo-Ramirez, who also pleaded guilty to a two-year weapons enhancement for the use of a knife, could be sentenced to as much as 28 years. Defense attorney Bevan Maxey said it was an "extremely sad" day for both Smith's and Trejo-Ramirez's families. "He's a young man with no prior criminal history who will be spending a lion's share of his younger life in prison," Maxey said. Sterett declined to comment until after sentencing. Trejo-Ramirez told police that Smith, a 2003 Lewis and Clark High School graduate whom he met in North Carolina, was his girlfriend, police have told The Spokesman-Review. He called 911 early on the morning of Feb. 21, saying he was having trouble breathing and had lost a lot of blood, according to police. When Spokane Fire Department paramedics responded, he told them that he had attempted suicide and had fresh cuts on to his arms and neck. He later disclosed that Smith was dead in Room 118.
Evelynn Grace Smith
July 13, 1984 – February 21, 2005 One of my dearest friends lost her lovely 20 year old daughter four years ago to a young man 19 years old who didn’t know how to cope with his emotions. Being that he was overly jealous, compulsive, and controlling, were there warning signs? Yes, many signs but we never want to think someone who loves us would really hurt us. Yet it happens everyday. Evelynn was a young lady with so much life and energy. She had big dreams of starting college. She was very health conscious and she loved to run. At one point in their relationship she drew up a contract and had him sign it just so she would be allowed to run, alone with other provisions. He wanted to keep her isolated and he didn’t want her to be around any of her friends. Her life ended tragically with knife wounds to her throat and cuts on the inside of her arms. But comfort has been given to those who loved Evelynn knowing she is in the hands of the Lord. Her life ended here but we know her life isn’t over. It is just the beginning of a greater life. See Evelynn died at a time when she had grown closer to the Lord than ever before. She was so excited about her relationship with the Lord and she desired to be with him, encouraging her mother to go to church with her which is exactly what they did. Evelynn was a smart young lady and she kept a journal, diary and several day planners. Inside her journal her mother learned much about what was going on in this relationship. This young man tried to make it look like they were going to commit suicide together because he put wounds on himself and told the detectives he was unsuccessful. However, there was much evidence to show otherwise. Her journal that she had been keeping for several years revealed how she had stayed in a shelter to get away from his abuse. She had pictures he had drawn that were quite scary. She met the young man in North Carolina but ended up leaving him and moving back to Washington. They continued talking on the phone and he convinced her things would be different. So she was planning to take him back. He caught a bus to Washington and she picked him up at the bus station. Then she took him to get a room at a motel. He was wearing a rosary around his neck at the time...After arriving at the motel a few hours later he took her life. He killed her in the bath tub and placed her nude body on the bed with her arms crossed. He laid a Spanish language Bible on top of her and then covered her with a blanket…Was this premeditated? I would say so… This young man was very insecure and this is a tragedy but as Christians we must forgive and this young man needs prayer along everyone else who was hurt in this situation. He took Eveylnn’s life but he hurt so many more, not only Evelynn’s family and friends but his own family…The Bible teaches we must forgive and love our enemies. Pray for them… Evelynn has an awesome mom. She is a wonderful person and a great friend. It took great courage for her to go and talk to the young man who took her daughter. When she spoke to him she tried to comfort him so she could learn what happened. My friend is very caring and forgiving. I met Kathy in a most unusual way. I placed an add in the newspaper for a vegetarian nanny and she answered it not because she was interested in the job but because she wanted to meet me. After we met we became the best of friends. That was 20 years ago. Evelynn and my daughter played together and they celebrated their birthday’s together (because their birthdays were two weeks apart). Evelynn was one year older than Dori but they got along really well… I remember every time Evelynn came over she never wanted to leave. She would always want to stay and keep playing….Kathy I love you, we will see Evelynn again and she lives in our hearts…..Love, Francine
Eulogy By Evelynn's Mother, Kathy Smith
To memorialize my daughter, Evelynn Grace, I would like to share details about the last days of her life. In addition, I would like to share some of what I realized following her death.
Those who knew Evelynn well know that she was vibrant, full of life and strong-willed. She had a terrific sense of humor and an adventurous spirit. It was her adventurous spirit that led to her desire to travel, to learn about other cultures, languages, and traditions.
As her mother, I always worried about her experiences and adventures. However, in the last few years of her life I became very proud of her. She finished her senior year at Lewis and Clark High School with A’s and B’s. She became an avid lover of fitness; she went running several times a week, played basketball and lifted weights. She was very diet conscious and health conscious.
But my greatest joy in her was her return to the church. The Sunday before Ash Wednesday, she asked me if we could attend church together. We also attended Ash Wednesday mass and fasted together. In fact, the day before her death she attended church with me and renewed her vows to God. She confided to me that one of her fondest childhood memories was that of attending church potlucks. She also said she really enjoyed the time she spent with her Sunday school teachers.
Her death came as a shock to me. Though I always knew her adventures and experiences in life were at times risky, I never expected my strong-willed daughter to perish so quickly, so tragically, and at so young an age.
I thought of Lady Diana’s and JFK Jr's experiences. I thought about the deaths of our young service men and women. I also thought of the tsunami victims. A writer named Charles Krauthammer wrote a January article for Time Magazine about the tsunami victims. He used these majestic words to describe the tsunami. “Comes the tsunami and we realize to our terror that Nature merely has to shrug, to flick a finger, as it were, and hundreds of thousands of us are broken, entire nations thrown into chaos and grief. It is the ultimate reminder of our common fragility, of just how precarious our species’ ridiculously brief sojourn on this earth really is.”
Like the tsunami victims, Lady Diana, and JFK Jr., Evelynn’s life perished abruptly and unexpectedly. Even more tragically, Evelynn perished at the hands of one who professed to love her.
This horrific reality led me to ponder the words of a Catholic prayer we frequently say at mass. It begins by saying “I confess to the almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do.”
A young man did something very terrible to my daughter. As her mother, I, and others, ask ourselves what we could have done to prevent this, and what we possibly failed to do. As her mother, this question will no doubt haunt me the rest of my life.
However, I can tell you I do take great consolation in the fact that Evelynn did renew her vows to God and the church. The angel of God took Evelynn away at a time when her heart was most pure. Though she died tragically at the hands of the one who professed to love her, so, too, did Jesus Christ perish at the hands of people who professed to love him, and apostles who failed to prevent his crucifixion. I take consolation in my faith that Evelynn is now in a better place where she is far removed from the cares, toils, and imperfections of this earth.
While it saddens me that there were so many ambitions, joys, and experiences that Evelynn will not live to realize. I take some consolation that she is not burdened by a perpetual pursuit of the treasures here on earth. As Matthew 6:19 states, “Do not lay up for yourself treasures upon the earth where the moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth or rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there, too your heart will be also.”
Much of what I realized following Evelynn’s death came to me in the early morning hours several days ago while I was asleep. I awoke from my sleep and wrote my thoughts down on a scratch sheet of paper in one of Evelynn’s day planners. When I later began to organize my thoughts in writing to memorialize Evelynn, I realized that the back of the scratch sheet of paper contained a picture that Evelynn had drawn. The picture was of a flower, with a girl’s face on the inside. Evelynn had told me a number of times in her adolescence that she felt like a flower growing up. I will always think of her as my lovely wild flower that God granted me a brief sojourn on this earth with.
As Evelynn used to always say to her friends may you all “have a good journey.”
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Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Our Lord is so Good, We can trust Him with all our Hearts, He will always come through for us, even in crisis, He is there with us always, even through Heart Break, Praise Our Wonderful Lord! Have a Blessed Day, You are in my Prayers, Love you, Julie
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
John 10:1-6
What a Wonderful Shepherd we have, He will lead us all the way home(: Have a Blessed Sunday, Love you, Julie
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:20-21
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heavens all gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow; Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; Oh rest beside the weary road And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace, their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24
What a Wonderful LORD! We are so Blessed, Have a Peaceful Sunday Francine, Pray for America! Love you, Julie
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10
Please Continue to Pray for Our Country, this is a huge election and is going to determine our path for many years to come, Please Vote your conscience, Have a Wonderful Day Francine, I'm Praying for you, Love you, Hugs!
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:9-10
Have a Peaceful Saturday Francine, God Bless You Friend(: Love You, Hugs!
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