Vernon County Crime Victims' Walk

Thursday, April 26, 2012

James R. Campbell

The annual walk and courtroom ceremony were held April 24 to commemorate the lives of 46 Vernon County crime victims and to encourage more assiduous attention to victims' rights and more vigorous investigation and prosecution of criminals.

Survivors of Belinda "Bea" Beisly are prominent in the procession, calling for a culprit's arrest in her July 15, 2009, murder near Deerfield.
Friends and relatives light candles in 28th Circuit Court as the Nevada High Show Choir sings "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
Participants put flowers at this symbolic gravesite southeast of the courthouse. From left in back are Mayor Brian Leonard, Sheriff Ron Peckman and Police Chief Graham Burnley.
"Bringing Honor to Victims," "Stop the Violence," "The Right to Safety," "Victims Have Rights" and "Crime Victims' Walk" were among the slogans exhibited during the annual Vernon County Crime Victims' Walk April 24.

Mayor Brian Leonard, left, Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster, Sheriff Ron Peckman and Chief of Police Graham Burnley lead the way ahead of a banner that says, "Gone But Never Forgotten."
Displayed at the courthouse, these are some of the T-shirts made by victims to express their feelings.
It's an attention-getting scene as the Crime Victims' Walk nears the intersection of Ash Street and Austin Boulevard with officers stopping traffic for the walkers to pass.
Crossing Austin, the procession heads north to the courthouse for a 6:15 p.m. ceremony for 46 victims whose names and faces are sequentially shown on a video screen.