There is still hope for justice
The Mickey Shunick case has captured much of Louisiana’s attention since her disappearance in May. The case has drawn even more attention since prosecutors announced that in addition to being charged with Shunick’s first degree murder (though her body has yet to be found), suspect Brandon Lavergne would also be charged in the 1999 murder of Lisa Pate, who was 35.
Pate was reported missing in June 1999. Three months later, her body was discovered in an Acadia Parish field about 12 miles from Lavergne’s home.
It has been 13 years since Pate’s murder – such a long time to await the truth behind her death.
Despite what television would have you believe, cold cases are not solved every day. While technology has enabled law enforcement to reexamine evidence in cold cases and pursue newer leads, not every case sees closure or, for that matter, justice.
But the Pate case should remind us not to lose hope in seeking answers in cases all too familiar to us – the eight Jeff Davis women who were murdered between 2005-2009.
Loretta Lewis, Ernestine Patterson, Kristen Lopez, Whitnei Dubois, Laconia “Muggy” Brown, Crystal Zeno, Brittney Gary and Necole Guillory are still very much on the minds of the majority of the parish. Some of us knew those young women personally while others are outraged that their lives were stolen. We all still share the common goal, though, which is finding justice for the victims.
Law enforcement is still working on solving those murders. While it seems the day of justice cannot come fast enough, as a community, we need to remember there is still hope. For 13 years, Pate’s family and friends could only wonder and hope but their day has come. Part of this was brought about by the Shunick family, which still has not rested in their pursuit of bringing Mickey home and bringing justice to her case. They made their mission known by going out into the community seeking answers through strangers, businesses, the media and law enforcement. In a way, the perseverance of the Shunick family helped to shine further light on Pate’s case.
As a community, we should take notes and keep fighting for our slain neighbors. The eight women who were taken from our community cannot fight for themselves. This is why we need to keep fighting for them.
Short URL: http://www.jenningsdailynews.net/?p=12601
Posted by Graphic Designer 2
on Jul 20 2012. Filed under Editorial.
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