My sister Kate was my best friend. She was just two years older, and we grew up together. Just like all sisters, we played house, made up dances in the living room, played sports together, and were in the same schools all our lives. Kate was 33 when she was shot in the head while sitting on a bench with her friend in the Cleveland Metropark at 5:08 p.m. on June 4, 2019. They have not found their murderer.
Kate was a dynamic, caring, humorous person without a single enemy. Kate’s first CDs were No Doubt, Coolio and Alice in Chains; I use that description to explain how she loved everything. In this past year, my family and I can’t fathom why someone would want to harm our Kate. Not a day goes by that I don’t long to see her.
Eventually, when our wounds are a bit more “healed,” I plan to inspire change in Metropark mandates to have more cameras and license-plate readers on all their entrances. Whoever was wielding the gun on June 4, 2019, is still out there, and we need a change so that person can never have access to a gun.