Another November 21st rolls around and it will never mean anything more to me but that my sister, Kathy, was found murdered on that day. At the age of 13, her life was snuffed out by a monster. A person, that in my opinion, is not a human being.
In 1971, Kathy was raped, brutally beaten, strangled, and left naked in the woods three miles from our home. The only piece of clothing left on her that cold November night was a pair of knee-high socks pulled down to her ankles. If that wasn’t horrific enough, she was run over by a car multiple times to make sure she was dead. Her murder was brutal, and it sent our family down a path of grieving like I’d never seen before. Tormented by her death, each of us just barely hung on to life.
Forty-seven years later, I still miss her, I still grieve the loss of her, and I still want her back. I can’t remember her voice, or her laugh, and it makes me sad. I wish I had the time to know her better, I was barely fifteen when it happened. We were never given the chance to have a future together, to watch each other grow, to see each other’s children, or enjoy nephews and nieces.
Her case is unsolved. It’s been forty-seven years of waiting for answers, anticipating an arrest, and hoping that someone would pay for what they did to her. In the meantime, I work to present the reality of unsolved cases to law enforcement and criminal justice students. I want them to understand that many of us never give up wanting justice for our loved one. I do it to honor Kathy.
I will always miss her, I still grieve her at times, and shed some tears, and that’s okay. I love her, and when you love someone that you miss, it’s normal, and don’t let anyone tell you different. I have learned to live in the new life forced upon me, but I also have learned that it’s okay to remember.
Karen Beaudin is a published author and accomplished speaker who addresses the subject of unsolved murders to various institutions, including universities, law enforcement, and religious organizations during conferences and training seminars. She promotes the value of Cold Case Units and its importance to families of murder victims. Karen also supports the creation of websites for unsolved homicides and unresolved deaths. These websites can provide valuable information to law enforcement and makes available a place to leave anonymous tips.
Karen's media interviews include Elizabeth Vargas from ABC 20/20, Bob Ward, Crime Reporter from Fox News Boston; Sean MacDonald, Andy Hershberger, and Ray Brewer from WMUR TV. In 2009 Karen and her sisters were influential in establishing New Hampshire's first Cold Case Unit. During Victims' Rights Week, 2010, the Gloddy family received a certificate of appreciation from Governor John Lynch for their outstanding service on behalf of victims' of crime.
To arrange a speaking engagement, contact Karen through her website, or by sending her an e-mail as indicated.
http://www.karenbeaudin.com
ksbeaudin@gmail.com
A Child Is Missing exposes the reality that murder follows a family throughout their entire life. Future events often loop back to the day when a loved one's life was taken by the hands of a murderer.
Karen's sister Kathy was murdered in 1971. The case was reactivated in 1983 and again in 2004. In 2006 Kathy's remains were exhumed for DNA. A Child is Missing: Searching for Justice is the sequel to A Child Is Missing, it covers the reopening of Kathy's investigation in 2004 to present date. Karen interviewed over fifty people for the sequel and acquired new information from retired investigators.
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4 thoughts on “I Still Miss Her”
Dear Karen,
Every year I pray this case will be solved for your family. It just boggles my mind that those responsible are or were able to live their lives without the consequences of her murder.
Dear Karen,
Every year I pray this case will be solved for your family. It just boggles my mind that those responsible are or were able to live their lives without the consequences of her murder.
Nancy
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Nancy, I know. It can definitely try your faith. Thanks for responding.
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I still have hope. Never give up.
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I won’t. Press on…
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