Danielle cherished family, friends and life. She had her whole life planned
out; her husband, number of kids, two dogs and would be a dermatologist, a career
where she could help others but have time for her family.
Christi had just enrolled in college. She just began taking First Baptist Church
shuttles downtown every Thursday to befriend the homeless. Just chit chatting
with them and letting them know they had a friend. In her journals, she was
determined to turn her life around and she started by helping others. She volunteered
often for the M.U.S.T. Ministries to help set up their clothing shop for the
homeless and the children's center. She helped cooked their meals. She helped
do their laundry. She wanted to go into a field helping others. She would have
changed at least one person's life, for the better, when they thought there
was no more hope. She didn't show up last Thursday. She died.
In the months before she was killed, 21-year-old Anke Furber had been acting
scared and she seemed to know she was in danger. Several days after Furber's
charred remains were discovered in a small vineyard in Norcross, Anke's mom,
Ria, found a note in Anke's desk at home in Marietta. In it, Anke seemed to
foreshadow her own death. She wrote, "My parents would surely grieve the loss
of their wonderful daughter whose craziness would soon lead to her slaughter".
Ria isnt sure exactly when the note was written, but believes it was written
in a close time frame to the actual murder.
At 22 years old, Levi had goals and ambitions of being a business owner, a husband
and a father. He loved his family and friends with everything in him and would
do anything for you. His shyness and manners we're a shining attribute to who
he was. Unfortunately, Levi befriended someone who for nearly three years took
advantage of his kindness and when asked to leave his home, he killed him. If
he would have just walked out the door as asked, Levi would still be here today.
We'll never know all the wonderful things that Levi would have accomplished,
but we know he was a "Friend" till the end.
Ephraim was 21 yrs old when he prematurely transitioned to the other side. He
was a very warm hearted young man. And was always available to help friends
and family. As his cousin Ben said about him: "You can lay a 1,000. on the table
and know completely that Ephraim would have never taken it". He spent most of
his days at Antique World in Clarence , NY which was owned and operated by his
Uncle. That was my sons world. A world he will no longer be able to participate
in. He is sorely missed by his family and friends.
Mark suffered a brain injury at the age of 19 the night of a high school prom.
Mark died at the age of 25. Life was hard for Mark, he lived an aphasic life.
Mark struggled to relearn his alphabet and to speak again. Neuro rehab, drug
rehab, jails, institutions and death. Mark was disabled and a fighter all at
the same time. College, heavy equipment operator, volunteering were all part
of these six years. Mark loved kids and wished he had one. Due to the selfish
reasoning of his so called friends, Mark will never be able to achieve his dreams
that he fought so hard for. Mark's struggle is over !! PEACE..........
His friends describe him as a kind, warm hearted, full of energy, always smiling,
and a very silly young man. They also said that whenever Sean walked into a
room that he had the ability lighting up the room because he was full of life
and energy! He loved his dad, his mom, and his sister very much. He had a very
special bond with his great grandma Efford and his great aunt Charlene whom
also up in heaven with him. A warm hug from Sean was just another way that he
showed his affection to his family and friends
When Cayte was in the middle school she was on the track team, she was a cheerleader
for the Nor-Roc Vikings, she was on a soccer team, and she loved attending the
dances at the Sad Cafe. When she went to high school, all of those activities
stopped. The sad reason was because she was too old. All the kids have, once
they reach high school, are the woods and the homes of friends when the parents
are at work. If she had activities to do after school when she went to high
school, maybe this wouldn't have happened.
From her birth to her passing Katty touched so many lives. Not only did her
family have the joy of watching her grow from a 6 pound baby girl to a beautiful
young woman, but so many others did as well. The lives she touched are too many
to fathom. Her beauty and grace preceded her where ever she went. Her heart
was made of fine gold and she cared for others always before herself. She was
not just special to all of us but to the Lord who saw fit to call her home at
such a young age. Her mansion was ready! When we think of Katty now we all can
be at peace because we know she is with her Lord, never to face this harsh world
we live in day to day. She is with us always when we remember her smile, her
touch, and her kind words. We all had the pleasure of being touched by an ANGEL!
We want our son's name to be Remembered and to bring hope and joy out of something
that has been the darkest and heartbreaking days of our families life. JP was
very out spoken and we have decided to be that way on this site and to be his
voice about the drug companies and the public official's that sit back and do
nothing. If we could save one person from what our family had to go Through
and is still going Through, it would be all worth it We will not stop until
the truth gets out. We want his memory to live on.
Time has gone by so quickly and it seems like we haven't seen your face in forever.
Our hearts are broken, our tears flow so freely and our souls feel empty. Michael,
you left us with so many happy memories but the memories can never take your
place. We know you and your uncle Sam are saving a place for those who cherished
you the most.
Two weeks before he died, Chuck called me on the phone. He was excited to tell
me he was joining the National Guard. He had begun to think about being a History
Teacher. He planned to attend school after basic training. He also mentioned
a new girlfriend. He was pretty crazy about her but wanted to give things a
little more time before making her "meet the parents". Still, we made plans
to meet for lunch once July wound down. He thought we might all get together
and told me not to worry, he had a job and would help pay the check. The first
time I met the young lady he was so crazy about was as she cried herself senseless
over his casket. She laid a broken heart chain and necklace across his hands.
She wore the mating half around her slender neck. Her courage in court helped
to solidify the deal that sent a drug dealer to prison. I hope she, and Chuck's
other friends, make the right decision and swear off drug use so we may never
see their faces on these pages.
Everyone ever touched by Miranda. This will be a tribute to the life she lived.
She was the most remarkable and inspirational woman I have ever known. I was
in awe of my own daughter. Even as her mother, her beauty took my breath away,
and as she walked this earth from her crawling stages to adulthood her beauty
from the inside amazed me. Miranda loved about every living thing and each friend
she had she made her relationship with them special and unique.
Jamie was a very loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, boyfriend and friend..
Most importantly he was the best father anyone could have asked for.. Even though
he was only 16 when he was taken away from us from his so called friend, he
did everything for his daughter and mother of his daughter that he had
asked to marry him when he turns 18.. Jamie was the type of kid that would take
his shirt off his back for anyone that needs it.. Jamie died on April
23, 2008.. If only his so called friend (29 yrs old), his mother and the other
people at the home called 911 instead of waiting 3 hours, he would still be
here with us today.. Jamie's dad passed away Nov 2005 and he had a hard time
dealing with loosing his father and could not believe he was gone.. Well now
Jamie is at home with his dad..Until we meet again... I am proud of you my son..Love
you always and forever, Mommy
Kaylin Marie Mathews was born on a Tuesday March 1, 1988. Kaylin was my oldest
child and my only daughter. She could play the piano, guitar, and drums and
loved to sing. She had been "spinning records" the last few years and loved
to mix music. She had been working as a d.j. at the time of her death and was
very good. Kaylin was an only child for 71/2 years. She has one brother and
one sister. She was a talented writer. She made jewelry and she could draw.
There was nothing that my baby couldn't do, if she wanted to. Kaylin was left
to die in a ravine on June 30, 2008. She was found on July 1, 2008. Her date
of death is listed as a Tuesday July 1, 2008. She was 20 years old. I miss her
every second of every day. The world lost an amazing talent and an amazing young
woman. I lost a part of my heart.
R.J. was truly a blessing in our lives. He was the kind of son that most parents
only dream of having. He always respected and obeyed his parents and never got
in trouble. RJ was never in trouble in his life RJ always called home to let
us know where he was and when he would be home. When he was missing and we couldn't
reach him on his cell phone, we knew immediately something terrible was wrong.
This is a nightmare that no parent should have to go through and we are living
it. Our concern is not what we are going through, but what our son had to go
through in his final moments of life.
William Michael Grandchamp better known as Billy, was born Nov 7,1979. HE was
a only child. Billy had many friends. Billy often told his friends that his
MOM was his best friend. Billy liked to collect sports attire like jerseys and
sports caps.Everything he wore had to match. He was meticulous with his clothing,
car, and home. Although, Billy had no children of his own he loved children.
He told me his greatest wish was to find a good girl and settle down and have
a family. That seemed to be very important to him. Even at a young age he had
a gift with children. Billy's friends have always commented on how good he was
with their children and how their children loved him. Billy was loved by so
many people. He had over 800 friends and family members at his wake. Billy will
be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
Chase lived life spontaneously with the freedom of a butterfly – a free spirit
& soul – no one could hold him down, except his baby girl. She was his LIFE.
There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, including getting clean. Chase
was clean 1.5 yrs, after 6 months in residential rehab in New Orleans, continued
with NA meetings, substance abuse group counseling, and sought out a Navy recruiter
who told him all he would have to do to be eligible. He seemed to be on his
way, until he fell off the wagon 12 days out of jail. Turning to heroin again
to deal with stress was the mistake of his life. “Chase’s Story” is shared with
you on his main page. Thanks for taking time to read it. Sincere and heartfelt
thanks to the FDLFD Family for taking us under their wings. “They will sing
me to them, and I will hear.” ~RIP Chase~4evrYng~1985-2009
Katelynn Lillian Porter, 16, of West Elgin, was killed in a car crash on Dunborough
Rd. in Elgin County. “In loving memory of Katelynn Porter. 12/12/09. 9:40 p.m.”
is written between two hearts on the roadside memorial, a makeshift cross. Porter
was a student at West Elgin secondary school, where officials are trying to
come to grips with the news of her death, especially so close to Christmas.
Tony passed away 10 days after his 16th birthday. He asked permission to spend the night at his friends and I told him yes. I told him" I love you" and he replied "I love you too Mom. Tony was the kid who wanted to make everyone laugh. He had such a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart. He would talk to his friends for hours trying to help them solve their problems. He was a loving big brother, and a wonderful son. He would help you with anything without even being asked. Tony was an extremely intelligent child. He was always placed in advanced classes. A week before he passed we received a letter from Columbine informing us that Tony was nominated to participate in their advanced English Program. He had a gift for writing stories.
She loved all things technical and mechanical with her older brother Ian and fashion and decorating days with her older sister Genevieve. She loved Gothic country art, the workings of the human body, video games, driving and her new tattoo machine. She loved swimming and surfing. She loved all things living and loved her dog Timpleton and her parrot Thermopolis. She had a strong heart and soul, was an independent and progressive thinker, open minded and a will power like no one else. Her favorite place to go was Barnes and Noble.
Vivianna Satterfield was 15 years old! Vivi was the type of young lady that put other people in front of herself. She would always say "Peace and Love".
Kelli Laine Lewis is my only daughter. Kelli died when she was 18 after attending a party hosted by 3 adults who offered a $5.00 entry fee to come and drink all you wanted. A pretty tempting offer for teens not old enough to buy alcohol.
Growing up – she had it all. She was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She wShe was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She was always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing. Taylor was a huge fan of Tyler Perry’s Madea. She owned every play and knew every word to every gospel song in the plays. She would sing them at the top of her lungs to anyone that would listen. as always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing.
He went out THE FIRST TIME to celebrate being "LEGAL" with a creep he considered a friend (even though we warned him this guy was not a true friend). My son did not drive so he was picked up about ten thirty. Even when it was obvious my son was having difficulties this creep brought him to his own house , which is 4 houses away for a few hours, and dropped him off here at home in the middle of the night WITHOUT KNOCKING OR CALLING OR WAKING US UP. We found Ben in his bed the next morning when we tried to wake him.
The
Compassionate Friends Atlanta Area Chapter Resource Page
In Loving Memory of
Anke Furber
For the 2nd time I attended the TCF National Conference
in Portland, OR.
This
time around I flew to Portland wearing the
Friendsdontletfiendsdie.com t-shirt on the plane and got
lots of comments. I also saw many people just glancing,
turning away without asking - maybe they were afraid to
ask.....
If you don't know what I'm referring
to, please visit
www.friendsdontletfriendsdie.com
During the Conference people stopped me in the halls asking
me to turn around so that they could read the back as well.
Lucky me I had the two available t-shirts and so could
alternate without smelling too much.
There were many
workshops to attend. One was of particular interest to me.
It was called "Death From The Disease Of Addiction" . The
presenter lost her adult son who was addicted to
heroin and alcohol - it was a very powerful and emotional
workshop. Because I wasn't feeling well I sat all the way in
the back (wearing the friends t-shirt of course) but sitting
there gave me a good view of the packed room. When she told
about her sons addiction, the in-and-out of jail stuff and
the rehabs I saw many heads nodding - WE ALL KNEW WHAT SHE
WAS TALKING ABOUT.
All of you who are reading my blogs
do know that I've never been in denial about Anke's
drug-use. Hey, what's the point in being in denial, it only
gives you more headaches to deal with. And so, strange as it
sounds, I felt "at home" in that room with all those
bereaved parents whose child died of the disease of
addiction.
All of us whose childs death is
drug-related have struggled with questions like Disease
or moral failing? Shame? Enabling? Vicious cycle?
And many more.
Then of course for me the criminal
aspect. The way the dets. 'treat' the 'victim survivors' as
we are called. The presenter touched that briefly too and
again I saw many nodding heads.
After the workshop I
walked up to her and told her a little bit about the
friendsdontletfriendsdie team. She had green and purple
bracelets, similar to the blue and white the TCF people wear
- similar to the yellow bracelets too - people wear those to
support a cause. Hers read "NO SHAME OR BLAME - JUST LOVE" -
I've been wearing mine since Portland.
I've
known for a long time (I'm sure many of you do too)
that addiction is a disease which is very difficult to
treat.
We who lost a child due to drugs are
getting the 'she/he-asked-for-it' treatment from the dets.
Some dets. don't even want to say the name of your child,
they just say 'your son or your daughter'.........
Please don't let your death be
"drug-related".......... there may never be an investigation
and maybe put in the very bottom drawer of the dets.
desk. In Anke's case there was an investigation but the case
was declared a 'cold case' eight months after her
death.................
We need to educate a lot of
people about drugs - preferably starting in elementary
school.
We also need to do a lot of reseach
about why one person smokes pot and never feels the need to
try hard drugs or just once and is able to quit,
while others keep on pushing the envelope and need
to explore starting doing hard drugs.
Drugs happen in
the best of families, rich or poor, white or black,
religious or not, gay or lesbian..................drugs
don't discriminate.
All in all I'm glad I attended
the National Conference and will attend the next one again.
Ria - mom of Anke.
The Compassionate Friends
Atlanta Area Chapters
Marietta Chapter: Kathy
Kelcourse 770-579-3512 Erica Beltz 678-891-7479
Grief support
after the death of a child The mission of The Compassionate
Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of
grief following the death of a child of any age and to
provide information to help others be supportive.
The
Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support
organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope
to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no
religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees.
The secret of TCF's success is simple: As seasoned grievers
reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been
directed inward begins to flow outward and both are helped to
heal. The vision of The Compassionate Friends is that
everyone who needs us will find us and everyone who finds us
will be helped.
This web site is dedicated to those who
have experienced the death of a child or sibling. If you are
in that situation, we want to help.
LAWRENCEVILLE -- Police have identified
the body of a woman whose burnedbody was found in a Norcross
vineyard as 21-year-old Anke Marjon Furberof Marietta.
There are few clues about Furber and
why she ended up in Norcross,authorities said. Several children,
ages 8 and 10, were picking grapeswith their parents at 3066
Reps Miller Road when they stumbled upon thebody Sunday
afternoon, No one had reported Furber missing. Instead, the
remains were identified after police matched up Furber's
fingerprints in the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System
-- a national database of fingerprints from people who have been
arrested for a criminal offense.
Officer Darren Moloney, spokesman for
the Gwinnett County Police Department, said he did not know what
charge Furber had been convicted of, but she had no criminal
history in Gwinnett. "It is our policy that we don't go into
the criminal backgrounds of our victims," Moloney said. Furber
is Dutch. Moloney did not know her immigration status.
Authorities are still withholding the
cause of death; however the casehas been ruled a homicide.
Anyone with information that may lead
to an arrest in the slaying isasked to call the Gwinnett Police
24 hour non-emergency number at 770-513-5100 and ask for a
homicide investigator.
Parents say slain 21-year-old knew she was
in danger
By Andria Simmons Staff Writer
andria.simmons@gwinnettdailypost.com
LAWRENCEVILLE -- In
the months before she was killed, 21-year-old Anke Furber had
been acting scared and she seemed to know she was in danger, her
parents said.
Several days after Furber's charred
remains were discovered in a small vineyard in Norcross,
Furber's mother, Ria Coesel, found a note in her daughter's desk
at their home in Marietta. In it, Furber seemed to foreshadow
her own slaying. Furber wrote "my parents would surely grieve
the loss of their wonderful daughter whose craziness would soon
lead to her slaughter."
Coesel isn't sure exactly when the note
was written, but she believe sit was penned recently.
Coesel said her daughter battled a drug
problem from an early age. Recently, she had been spending more
and more time at home taking walks, riding her bicycle and
reading. The behavior was unusual, because Furber usually spent
a lot of time away from home with friends.
"She was very scared. She was afraid,"
Coesel said. "When we ask her what she was afraid of, or who,
she just said I have a problem. She never ever said anything.
Maybe she was afraid we would be involved." Police and
Furber's family believe her addiction may have been her
downfall, putting her into contact with dangerous people who may
have had a motive to kill her. Although Furber had been trying
to stay clean from methamphetamine, she sometimes relapsed,
Coesel said. "She never completely quit using, and I know
that and I cannot change that, but she tried," Coesel said. "We
kept the door open that she could always come home. We wouldn't
let her fall down."
No one is certain of Furber's comings
and goings during her last days alive. Coesel had gone to visit
her family in the Netherlands, and herU.S.-born husband was
vacationing with his brother in Seattle. Furber'sfather spoke
with her on the phone Sept. 22 and 23.
Police believe Furber disappeared on
Sept. 24.
The following day, several children,
ages 8 and 10, were picking grapes with their parents at 3066
Reps Miller Road in Norcross when they stumbled upon a burned
body in the vineyard. Police were able to identify the remains
as Furber through fingerprint analysis.
Investigators have not released the
cause of death and they don't know the motive. They are still
awaiting toxicology test results, said Det.G. Lorenzo of the
Gwinnett County Police Department.
"She was involved in some things,"
Lorenzo said. "It could be drugs, it could not. It could be a
jealous boyfriend or something. I know she had issues with
drugs. That's a real bad type of thing to get into because
people unfortunately will kill you over half a joint."
Lorenzo said the fact that no one was
aware of Furber's comings and goings prior to her death has made
the investigation more difficult.
Anyone with information that may lead to an
arrest in the slaying is asked to call the Gwinnett Police
24-hour nonemergency number at770-513-5100 and ask for a
homicide investigator.
LAWRENCEVILLE
--Police initially kept under wraps the cause of death in the
case of a 21-year-old woman whose burned body was found in a
private vineyard in Norcross.
But almost four months have
passed without any solid leads, and now more details are
becoming available.
Anke Furber, 21, died of a gunshot
wound to the head, according to her mother, Ria Coesel of
Marietta.
Coesel said police have given her the green
light to talk more freely about her daughter's death in hopes
that someone will come forward with new information. She is
concerned that without any fresh information, her daughter's
case will soon be forgotten.
"There is nothing going on
in the case, and I don't want it to be placed on the back
burner," Coesel said. "I want people to work on it, so it is not
going to disappear."
Coesel even plans to contact the
television show "America's Most Wanted" in an attempt to get her
daughter's story aired before national audience.
Investigators have used home telephone records to contact some
of Furber's friends, none of whom have provided any solid leads,
said Detective Gilberto Lorenzo of the Gwinnett County Police
Department in an interview last month. Lorenzo could not be
reached for comment Monday.
The only possible suspect
mentioned by Furber's acquaintances is a man nicknamed "D" who
used to provide her with drugs, but investigators have been
unable to discover that man's true identity, Coesel said.
Furber battled a drug addiction from an early age. Family
members said she was trying to stay clean from methamphetamine
in the months before she died. Toxicology tests showed no drugs
or alcohol in Furber's system at the time of death, Coesel said.
Two children picking grapes with their parents off Reps
Miller Road in Norcross stumbled upon Furber's charred remains
on Sept. 25, 2005.Furber lived with her parents in Marietta and
had no known ties to Gwinnett County.
No one is certain
of Furber's comings and goings during the final days of her
life. Coesel had gone to visit her family in the Netherlands,
and her U.S.-born husband was vacationing with his brother in
Seattle. Furber's father last spoke with her on the phone Sept.
23.
Police think she probably disappeared the following
day. Coesel believes someone knows more about her daughter's
death, and she is increasingly frustrated by the lack of clues.
The past few months have been the most difficult Coesel and her
husband have ever experienced, she said.
"You would at
least think if people don't want to talk, maybe they will say
something anonymously," Coesel said. "That's what I would do if
I knew something. It is a shame."
Anyone with
information about the case is asked to contact Lorenzo at the
Gwinnett County Police Department at 770-513-5318.
Click above to visit Anke's MySpace site
Ria Coesel - mom of Anke Furber
and DD Flynn - mom of Christi Nowak
National Night Out Against
Crimes and Drugs. Woodstock, Georgia