YEOMAN: ‘It’s heartfelt to see everyone come together’
moments.”
And the mood was much different than that of the candlelight vigil on April 30. Though Yeoman’s family and friends embraced one another and wiped away tears, the celebration of life was relaxed and heartfelt.
Dozens of photos of Yeoman were strung up in the center of the plaza, and showed Yeoman throughout the years holding infant relatives, surfing, wearing a birthday crown, and taking mirror selfies with friends.
Two Butte County Cal Fire firefighters, Kyle Wisdom and Chelsye Jenkins, attended the event to show support.
“We’ve followed it on the news,” Jenkins said of Yeoman’s case. “We came out to show our support to her, her family and the community.”
Wisdom spoke of Gridley supporting the Yeoman family since Aly’s disappearance.
“It speaks a lot about the community,” Wisdom said. “It’s heartfelt to see everyone come together."
Holly Woods is a Gridley resident who started tagging cars with #JusticeForAly after her body was found. She said while Yeoman’s cause of death remains unknown, justice could mean many things.
“I try to make sure it stays in the public,” Woods said. “You cannot be human and not feel something about this.”
Valerie Hopkins performed a handful of songs at the celebration, starting with “You’ll Be With Me,” a request made by Yeoman’s father. She also recorded a remake of the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which she performed at the closing of the celebration.
“It touched people in a way I hoped it would,” Hopkins said of posting the recorded remake online for Yeoman’s family. “I feel so honored they asked me to sing.”
Yeoman was last seen leaving a residence in the 1800 block of Romero Street in Yuba City March 30. A search warrant was served by the FBI and Sutter County Sheriff’s Office a week after Yeoman was last seen; the warrant is still not available at Sutter County Superior Court.
Home surveillance captured Yeoman’s green Toyota Tacoma being driven around a locked gate around 10:55 p.m. that night. The truck was spotted the next day stuck in the mud in an orchard about a quarter-mile from where the video captured the footage, according to Yeoman family Facebook posts, with at least one set of footprints.
The truck wasn’t reported to law enforcement until a few days later, when her cellphone was also found nearby.
Anyone with video surveillance depicting Yeoman or her truck, or with information in the case is encouraged to call SCSO at 822-7307.