I have covered a lot of crime stories in my news career. But the one I covered this morning has made my heart hurt like it never has before.
Nine-year-old Mya Lyons was found as stabbed to death - and possibly sexually assaulted - early this morning in alley near her father's South Side home. Mya's father says the little girl was put to bed, but she somehow got out of the house. He told authorities that he later found her unresponsive in an alley and brought her to Jackson Park Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Mya's grieving grandfather was at the crime scene this morning. In between his sobbing, he showed me a picture of his precious Mya. She was with her mother and little brother. Mya was cute as a button. She had a pink ribbon in her hair and a matching pink shirt and a big, beaming bucktooth smile.
She was a sweet, good girl her grandfather told me. I couldn't think during the interview. My hands were shaking, and I was sweating. I wanted to just drop that microphone and run back to our news truck and cry. But, I had to stay composed.
Mya's grandfather says he forgives the person who did this to his granddaughter. He's a God-fearing man, and says forgiveness is the right thing to do. I wish I could be as big as Mya's grandfather. But the only thing I have is hate and disgust for the monster who did this to that innocent little girl.
When I go home tonight, I'll cry for Mya and pray that police catch the person who took her precious life.
Comments (3)
I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO SHOULD WATCH THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO....ITS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-xQvtxVFtQ PEACE TO THE YOUTH!!!!!!!
Posted by AECHDOT | July 15, 2008 9:56 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 21:56
My Heart is heavy, I have cried as if this was my own child. Life appears to mean absolutely nothing in the society and enviroment we live in today especially african-american life. I have a child, nieces, nephews and cousins and I can not phathom the thought of losing one of them particularly in such a cruel and heinous way. I do not know if life would be worth living for me if I lost my child in such a manner. We must step up as a community and say "NO MORE" to the violence that is running rampant in our streets.We must show our babies that life is worth something. The only way the father and family of precious little Maya will be able to make it through this is with the strength and power of the Lord. I pray that God keep them and give them the strength they will need to make it.
Posted by Pam | July 15, 2008 8:33 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 20:33
I first heard this report at 8:05am this morning. I arrived to work at 9:30am and looked on line to see any updates and didn't find any new information. I went to cltv and some information was posted but not enough to give hope that this story is making headlines. There is nothing on cnn.com, abc.com or any other mainstream networks. I am asking myself what is the difference between Joann Bennett and Mya? Why did the entire country know about Joann the next morning after the crime and there is hardly any local information about Mya? My heart is broken, I also feel like crying and screaming out loud and ask "why", why this little girls who didn't have any hate in her heart have to die in such a gruesome way. I am also wondering if the local authorities will give their 200% in finding the killer and also, what will they do to prevent another family suffering? Mya needs to get more attention, she needs to be the center of all broadcast news, either by television, radio or newspaper. Why are our little black girls or Latina girls never good enough to be given the attention they deserve? After how long will we forget this horrendous crime has occurred? In addition, what can we do as a community to prevent such a monstrosity of occurring again. We need solutions and answers. God bless Mya, God bless her family and God bless the hearts of all the families who have encountered the same tragedy in their lives, and also, God bless all the forgotten victims who never got the chance.
Posted by Jaqueline Zavala | July 15, 2008 4:17 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 16:17