SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
“To understand these shoes, you must walk in them. We all know someone who walked in these shoes,” said Connie Ankney, whose son and daughter-in-law were murdered in 1997. Ankney is director of Parents of Murdered Children, whose members gathered Tuesday at the Charlotte Justice Center in Punta Gorda.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Connie Ankney, director of POMC, addresses the friends and families of murder victims.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Lynda Constantino releases a dove in daughter Kristine Lyn Constantino’s memory. Kristine’s murderer is now deceased, which offers little comfort to her grieving mother.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Brian Wilson, father of Christina Marie Wilson, who was slain in 2002, prepares to release a dove in her memory while Christina’s mother, Jennifer, looks on.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Dayra Rivera, daughter of murder victim Luis Rivera-Colon, praises her late father during the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims on Tuesday.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
Jan Cornell, mother of Robin M. Cornell, is seen here placing flowers on the newly placed plaque in Robin’s memory. Robin’s murder is still unsolved 22 years later.

SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES
The family of murder victim Alex Teehee stands united in the memory of their beloved son, father, uncle and brother. Mother Carol Teehee, father Tab Teehee, sister Jana Thompson, nephew Kyler Thompson, brother-in-law Joe Parker, brother-in-law Jeff Lenz, sister Marla Lenz, sons Kaden Teehee and Eli Teehee, nieces Trista Rossetti and Bethanie Parker, and nephew Urban Lenz.