Molly Conley’s father talks about life one year after losing daughter in drive-by
Jun 2, 2014, 7:38 AM | Updated: 9:42 am
One year after Bishop Blanchet freshman Molly Conley was shot and killed, family and friends are remembering the young girl they lost. (Conley Family)
(Conley Family)
One year after Bishop Blanchet freshman Molly Conley was shot and killed, family and friends are remembering the young girl they lost.
Molly was shot in a drive-by in Lake Stevens on June 1, 2013, as she walked with friends on her 15th birthday. Molly’s father John Conley says things haven’t been easy, but they’ve been working hard to move forward.
“We’re plugging along, even more so because we have to do it for her and her honor.”
Students at Bishop Blanchet held a memorial for her last Thursday, and over the weekend family and friends set up displays of white crosses at the site of her killing and her grave.
John Conley says the services were very moving and people had trouble walking away.
“No one wanted to leave. People were here past midnight, which sounds kind of creepy in a cemetery, but it was incredibly beautiful.”
John says the rest of the family is doing well. They’re moving on, but they’re finding it is a process, and they are still waiting for justice.
“You go through bits and pieces,” he says. “When you have the state prosecuting a murder trial, that is a big part of the journey. It not happening makes it so that you can’t get past that part, and so that’s difficult, and it’s a bit of a roller coaster.”
Erick N. Walker, 26, was arrested June 28, 2013 at his home and booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree murder, five counts of second-degree assault and four counts of committing a drive-by shooting. His trial is set to begin next month.
Going through this experience, John says one thing that’s been incredibly gratifying is seeing others carry on Molly’s spirit. He says most of all he wants people to continue to remember her.
“It’s important to remember her for how incredible she was,” he says. “It’s also important to remember her so that these things don’t happen to us and our society going forward. That’s how we avoid these things, we remember them.”
KIRO Radio Editor Bob Larson contributed to this report.
