Remembering those lost to violence

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The holidays bring families together, but for too many, a loved one will always be missing. Monday night, the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office held its 22nd Annual Homicide Victim Memorial Service. It is a time for survivors to find strength in each other and honor the ones taken too soon.

One by one, they placed their ornament on the tree inside Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Dayton. Each decoration represents a life lost this past year to violence. Forty-six ornaments were placed on the tree. That is six less than the previous year, but one is too many said Matt Heck, Montgomery County Prosecutor.

"I think the community needs to be mindful of what happens all over our county, whether it's in our city, whether it's in our townships, north, south, east or west," said Heck. "Just give mind and maybe pause for a moment tonight for those who have lost their lives to violence, and think about the ways that everyone in the community can help make a difference."

The people here represent the side of homicide not often seen. The ones left behind to pick up the pieces and cope with the heartbreak, like Dorothy Acoff. Her daughter, Deborah Nooks, was beaten to death by her boyfriend.

"I miss her," said Acoff. "I can't bring her back. It's her memories that keep me going."

It is a loss she lives with every day, but gets tougher this time of year. "That's the hard time, especially the holidays, and birthdays," she said.

Acoff certainly isn't alone. What ripped them apart ties them together here Monday night and always, and helps them draw strength to carry on.

"When you lose a loved one, at the same time you don't," said Acoff. "You just reach out to others and let them know that we must continue on and they want us to continue on living and rejoice and be happy."

Heck said 46 lives were lost to homicide this past year, down from 52 the previous year, and 75 the year before that. He credited the drop to a strong police presence on the streets, good communication between the different branches of law enforcement, and support from the community.