Lorain mural a moving tribute to murder victims

BOUQUETS >> To the organizers of the Victim’s Memorial Mural, who dedicated the art work to people who died at the hands of murderers.

The Memorial Mural is located on the third floor of the Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St. in Elyria.

On April 3, family members of murder victims and prosecutors celebrated the dedication of the Memorial Mural, situated in a narrow hallway on a wall outside the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Memorial Mural is made up of 110 white ceramic tiles decorated in a myriad of colors and framed in wood by those left behind after violent crimes.

Some tiles express wishes for the deceased or Bible verses. Many appeared to be decorated by children with multicolored squiggles and a few simply bore the initials for rest in peace or rest in heaven with a name.

Victim Services Director Kathy Rednour-Esser said during the celebration that the Prosecutor’s Office was kicking off Victims’ Rights Week, which runs April 2-8, with the wall dedication.

The wall was the brainchild of Lynette Burgess, whose mother Dorothy Spencer was murdered 41 years ago in Wakeman.

Burgess said, “This is the happiest day I’ve had in five years. This is here, not just because of my mother, but the other families, too. We worked so hard on this and I’m just so excited about it.”

We applaud the effort to never forget the victims of such senseless violence.

BOUQUETS >>

To Avon Lake City Council for approving March 27 wage increases for student interns, part-time and seasonal employees.

The ordinance raises the maximum salary cap to $15 an hour from $12 an hour.

Increased pay checks means more buying power.

Avon Lake Mayor Gregory Zilka said there are many employees who have worked for the city for several years at $12 an hour who will now see varied increases.

Zilka said, “So, anyone can imagine those individuals will be near the top and they still won’t be at $15 per hour. But we are going to have the leeway now to pay interns and some part-time people who provide great value to us more than $12 per hour.”

The legislation will allow hiring managers to exercise more flexibility in their decisions based on the education, training and experience of applicants.

This was a good move by Avon Lake because the employees will benefit with more money in their pockets.

BRICKBATS >>

To Melody R. Robertson, the 45-year-old Elyria woman accused of assaulting her landlord, chasing an Elyria man through a yard with a knife and unleashing racial and derogatory slurs after police said she was evicted from her apartment.

Robertson was taken into custody after police responded at 8:16 p.m., April 1, to a residence in the 200 block of Longford Avenue, according to an Elyria police report.

The incident transpired when the 49-year-old female landlord visited the house prior to police arrival to show it to a 28-year-old male interested in renting it.

Robertson’s lease at the Longford Avenue home ended April 1 and she was supposed to vacate the premises.

However, the landlord knocked on the front door multiple times with no response, so she then used her key to enter.

Inside, the pair witnessed Robertson engaged in a sexual act with an unidentified male, according to the report.

Robertson yelled obscenities at the 28-year-old male and began striking him in the chest. A short time later, she threatened to kill the landlord and directed racial slurs toward the male victim.

Robertson is innocent until proven guilty.

This, however, was an embarrassing scene that could have been avoided.

BRICKBATS >>

To Bryan E. Colon, the 24-year-old Marion man who will spend seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

Colon pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to an amended indictment of attempted rape and gross sexual imposition.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said investigators became aware of the abuse more than five years after the fact when diaries the girl had written were found by her family.

Speaking before the sentence was handed down by Common Pleas Judge John R. Miraldi on April 3, Colon apologized to his tearful family and the family of the victim.

Colon said, “What’s done is done, and I can’t take it back. I’m not that same person, your honor, and those who know me best would agree. I just hope you recognize my humility and honesty asking for forgiveness.”

Colon knew victimizing the girl was wrong but he continued gratifying his sexual urges. For that, he was punished. We only hope the victim of this monster can find peace.