Russell Lamond

I remember saying, please don't tell me he's talking about Shantae. Please don't tell me.

I remember saying, please don't tell me he's talking about Shantae. Please don't tell me.

I remember us vividly walking down the street and her mother pulled up in her car and she said, have you seen Shantae? She hasn't reported back in. She hasn't called. And it's not like her. And I said, no, we haven't seen her.

I remember us vividly walking down the street and her mother pulled up in her car and she said, have you seen Shantae? She hasn't reported back in. She hasn't called. And it's not like her. And I said, no, we haven't seen her.

Yeah, her mother was worried sick.

Yeah, her mother was worried sick.

I can't believe they would take such a precious person. She meant so much to Linda and I and to the community. Pastor, how are you, sir?

I can't believe they would take such a precious person. She meant so much to Linda and I and to the community. Pastor, how are you, sir?

Actually, no. She was loved by everybody. And then in the moment we found out that she was missing, it was like not even a thought. Let's look forward. We had to find Shante.

Actually, no. She was loved by everybody. And then in the moment we found out that she was missing, it was like not even a thought. Let's look forward. We had to find Shante.

I cried for months and months. Afterward, it came to the point where it was unsolved. It hurt. I was really angry that, you know, if I said, man, if I just get five minutes alone with this guy and, you know, that's not a proper way to think. But, you know, still, you know, they took something from all of us.

I cried for months and months. Afterward, it came to the point where it was unsolved. It hurt. I was really angry that, you know, if I said, man, if I just get five minutes alone with this guy and, you know, that's not a proper way to think. But, you know, still, you know, they took something from all of us.

We searched under piles of leaves. We searched under boats. You know, anything that would look like it would be hiding something.

We searched under piles of leaves. We searched under boats. You know, anything that would look like it would be hiding something.

He would pop up every once in a while.

He would pop up every once in a while.

And his sister as well.

And his sister as well.

Oh, he was a good kid. Good kid.

Oh, he was a good kid. Good kid.

We had a community cleanup of one of the homeless shelters. I remember him out there weed-eating, just going to town and weed-eating, cleaning up the community. He was very excited about doing it.

We had a community cleanup of one of the homeless shelters. I remember him out there weed-eating, just going to town and weed-eating, cleaning up the community. He was very excited about doing it.

It was very difficult, very difficult, because when he said... I'm a murderer. I just got sick. I was like, and I remember saying, please don't tell me he's talking about Shante. Please don't tell me. And the pastor's wife was standing next to us, and she goes, yes. And I put my head down, and I was so angry. I was so angry. I put my head down. I grabbed the pew. And I was like, how?

It was very difficult, very difficult, because when he said... I'm a murderer. I just got sick. I was like, and I remember saying, please don't tell me he's talking about Shante. Please don't tell me. And the pastor's wife was standing next to us, and she goes, yes. And I put my head down, and I was so angry. I was so angry. I put my head down. I grabbed the pew. And I was like, how?

I love this boy. And Pastor saw that he could see the look on my face. You were really conflicted. He goes, Russell, I want you to come stand next to him. And I'm thinking to myself, that's probably not a good idea right now. You know, I'm not an angry person, but I wanted to hurt you for five minutes. I kid you not, because I loved her so much.

I love this boy. And Pastor saw that he could see the look on my face. You were really conflicted. He goes, Russell, I want you to come stand next to him. And I'm thinking to myself, that's probably not a good idea right now. You know, I'm not an angry person, but I wanted to hurt you for five minutes. I kid you not, because I loved her so much.

So now I'm being asked to stand up next to him. And I went up to the pulpit, and I put my arms around him, and I embraced him. And I told him I loved him. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. Did you forgive him in that moment? Yes, I did. I did.

So now I'm being asked to stand up next to him. And I went up to the pulpit, and I put my arms around him, and I embraced him. And I told him I loved him. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. Did you forgive him in that moment? Yes, I did. I did.

I was devastated.

I was devastated.

I grabbed the pew, and I was like, ow.

I grabbed the pew, and I was like, ow.

She stood right next to Linda and I in the choir.

She stood right next to Linda and I in the choir.

This is the church, North Lake.

This is the church, North Lake.