Homicide Watch Montgomery Tracks Stories Behind Victims of Murder
We’re taking action against crime in Montgomery — So far, there have been 17 homicides this year. But there’s one group starting a permanent memorial for those victims And it needs your help to honor them.
The Centennial Hill Bar and Grill on Highland Avenue is where the city’s last homicides took place last year. The shooting took the lives of three people, but with that, a group called “Homicide Watch Montgomery” was formed. Members are posting fliers around town, putting a face and a story behind victims of murders.
17 murder victims — behind the number, is a story; a life lost too soon.
It’s why Georgia Martin and Cheryl Peele want to put a face and a name to honor the lives of homicide victims in Montgomery, posting signs like this one in hope that you can help them share more information about who these victims really were.
“They had hopes. They had dreams. We want them to come alive for the community, so they know what they lost. These are unique people who are now gone,” Said Peele.
But they’re not gone on their website: www.HomicideWatchMontgomery.com.
It’s a place that shares the photos, stories and lives of those murdered in Montgomery. All the information comes from people who knew the victims. On each victim’s page, you can even make a submission to provide more information.
Martin calls it a permanent memorial for the victims.
“They draw, they sketch. You know, those moments are left behind in the bedrooms. On the walls that people take little snapshots before they paint over. Those kinds of things [are] what we want to see on this website,” Said Martin.
Homicide Watch Montgomery is a non-profit organization partnering with Alabama State University students. So that the names are more than just a list. Martin and Peele say it’s their way of taking a stand against violence. But their hope is that the website will also help deter crime by touching the hearts of others.
“See what they go through if the circumstance happens to them and then we can feel more connected. More united. And there won’t be circumstances arising because everyone will be watching out for each other because they don’t want that to happen,” Said Peele.
“There’s always more to a story than just murder number 15,” Said Martin.
To help, you can log onto the group’s website, www.Homicidewatchmontgomery.com
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