CrimeNews 2000 Presents:

The year 2001 will forever be infamous in history for the sheer number of crime victims taken in one year. It will also be remembered as a year which brought each of us closer to the understanding of the actual torment that families and loved ones of crime victims experience.

Clearly we cannot honor each of these victims individually. Therefore, as we begin this Memorial Day we will try to bring to the forefront some victims whose stories are decidedly different in both scope and detail, but we which we feel can represent many of the victims we would like to honor.

Following this page you will find memorials which have been sent to us by readers, as well as the families and friends of crime victims. You will also find links to previous year's submissions. You may submit a request for inclusion in next year's Memorial Day 2003 Tribute to Victims of Crime by Clicking Here.

The criminal acts of September 11, 2001 will forever be imprinted on all of our minds. The jetliner that plunged into the Pentagon on that day, carried a well known attorney and author by the name of Barbara Olson. To let Barbara's story represent all of the victims is not to diminish the impact that of all of the other victims have had on us, but simply to pick one victim in acknowledgment of all.

Barbara Olson, 1955 - 2001

Barbara was the wife of the Solicitor General of the United States, Ted Olson. She was a former federal prosecutor and a well known speaker. She was an accomplished ballerina and an author. She was heading for the west coast after staying over one extra day in Washington, to be with her husband on his birthday. That night, when Ted finally returned home from being both an official of the United States government, and an exhausted and devastated husband, he found a love note from Barbara on his pillow.

Chandra Ann Levy, 1977 - 2001

Another crime which has torn at our hearts this year, is the disappearance and death of Chandra Levy. Again, we present this memorial not just in her name, but in the name of all of the victims of similar fate. She was a beautiful and bright young lady, whose upcoming graduation and movement into the adult world held the promise that all young people strive for. As a result of her abduction and death, we in the community have felt the pain of losing one so young, through the courage of her parents. Dr. Robert and Susan Levy are the most heroic and remarkable family. Chandra's parents, because of their courage and steadfastness have allowed us to worry with them, to search with them and to demand answers and justice with them. They have kept their daughter's fate in the news for this long and painful year. They have exposed their most private moments to us, in an effort to find their child. Like no other case before them, they have allowed all of us to truly feel their pain. And they have allowed us to feel as though we also are a part of seeking the truth and justice for Chandra. We truly applaud the Levy family, and continue to pray for justice for their daughter.

Martha Moxley, 1960 - 1975

We have, in each of our Memorial Day tributes, honored the young Connecticut teenager Martha Moxley. Again this year we make special mention of her. Not because her case is more special than any other, but like the Levy case, because of the family's steadfast pursuit of truth and justice for their child. This family has not sought the limelight, but anyone who has seen just one short statement from her mother, Dorthy Moxley, understands the dynamics behind the pursuit of justice for this child. Mrs. Moxley is a wonderful, soft-spoken, humble woman who continues to wait patiently for the justice required for her only daughter Martha. A child who was brutally murdered as a teenager more than two decades ago. Mrs. Moxley is not a person who would shout in anger nor would she elaborate the truth or point a finger. She just patiently walks forward in truth with her mission to find justice for her daughter. Many families wait for answers today. Let Martha and her Mom represent all of those families.

'Precious Doe', unknown - 2001

The fourth case we wish to present as a representative of many is the case of ‘Precious Doe'. This baby of 3 to 4 years old has remained unidentified since her decapitated body was discovered on April 28, 2001 in Kansas City, Missouri. Clearly her unclaimed status speaks of her victimization in life as well as her victimization at death. Let her remind us of all of the unidentified crime victims for whom we as a community must seek justice.