Homicide Victims' Families Gather For Day Of Remembrance

<p>An immeasurable amount of grief echoed through the square at the Oklahoma County courthouse. More than 100 people attended the Remembrance For Murder Victims&nbsp;event Monday night.&nbsp;</p>

Monday, September 26th 2016, 10:58 pm

By: News 9


An immeasurable amount of grief echoed through the square at the Oklahoma County courthouse.

More than 100 people attended the Remembrance For Murder Victims event Monday night.

"Everyone has a different story ... and we are healing differently," said Angela Wiles.

On June 10, 2013, Wiles' daughter, Alyssa Dawn Wiles, 14, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in their home in Duncan.

"Nothing is ever going to bring her back and nothing is ever going to change what happened," she said.

Wiles and her family attend events across the state to share their tearful testimony.

It is all in an effort to educate others about the dangers of teen dating violence and hopefully prevent another loss like hers.

Monday night, she and others learned that they are not alone in their grief.

More than 100 murder victims were represented in a candlelight vigil.

Some of the cases have been solved and others remain a mystery.

"We understand that at times in your journey it must seem like the entire deck is stacked against you," said Oklahoma County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland.

Since 2010, Oklahoma has averaged 210 murders each year, Rowland said.

He and District Attorney David Prater hosted the annual event.

Both thanked the survivors for their courage and offered their sympathies.

"We know that our very, very best is never going to be good enough in terms of righting the wrong that has been done to you," Rowland said.

He said prosecutors in Oklahoma County think of the survivors every day -- working toward justice.

"It is about not letting them [criminals] win, not just in the courtroom, but right out here in this square," Rowland said. 

The Oklahoma Homicide Support Group organized the event and encourage all survivors to join them monthly.

The group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at the OSBI Forensic Center in Edmond.

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