It’s hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly… 30 years is a long time, but this day is still as vivid in my mind as yesterday. My heart still aches the same it did that day… that pain will never go away.
I wrote the following a couple years ago and felt the need to re-share it again today. Thank you for those who continue to follow our case and support us as we fight for justice for my sissy.
Reflecting back on April 12, 1985
Today marks a significant anniversary in my life. It is a day that is forever etched in my mind, a day to reflect and a day to be thankful for.
On September 17, 1984, my 8 year old sister, Vicki Lynne Hoskinson, disappeared from our neighborhood. She had gone on her bike to mail a birthday card to our Aunt Lori for our mom. When she didn’t come home, I road my bike to find her. At that time, being 11, there was no doubt in my mind that she had stopped off at a neighbors or was playing with kids from the neighborhood and had lost track of time. We lived in a community and time when you left the house, played outside & people watched out for each other. Kids didn’t just disappear, and if they did it happened on T.V. and not on your street, let alone to your sister.
Vicki had been gone 6 months, 26 days…. or 207 days total.
April 12, 1985 was a friday, and I was sitting in Mr. Abrams 6th grade core class. When the door opened and one of the ladies from the office walked in, I knew she was there for me. Mr. Abrams paused, looking down and then up at me. He squeaked out the the words that I needed to gather my things and go to the office.
I sat in the yellow polyester cushioned chair against the windows that looked down the sidewalk and out into the parking lot. I was 11, and trying to understand the world that I had been thrusted into so many months before. There, in the office of the junior high school, everyone was quiet, and working just as hard at keeping it together as they were trying to act like they were working.
I can not tell you how long I sat in that chair in the window, but I knew when I looked over my left shoulder and saw my parents walking down the sidewalk it’s as if the world stopped.
They had found my sister….
Today, 28 years, 6 months and 26 days later, I can close my eyes and remember that day. The warmth of the Arizona sun through the window in the office, the look first on Mr. Abrams face, then on that of my parents, and the feeling of despair by those who surrounded me.
There are no words to express how incredibly grateful I am for the man who went looking for his dog that day and stumbled upon her remains, for at least we could have closure and lay her to rest.
If I had a penny for every time I thanked him, and those who gave so unconditionally those months we searched for her I would have enough money to buy the world.
Today, I miss Vicki just the same as I have in the 28 1/2 years it has been since she was taken from us. And I appreciate how incredibly blessed I have been in my journey between here and there…
**Our family has set up a Vicki Lynne Memorial Scholarship Fund at Flowing Wells High School where I graduated, and Vicki would have. If you would like to make a donation in her memory, you can do so by sending a check to:
Flowing Wells Unified School District
Attention: Monique Mata
1556 W. Prince Road
Tucson, AZ 85705
Flowing Wells Tax Id # 86-6003684
Please make sure you indicate that the donation is for the
VICKI LYNNE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
I am also doing a fundraiser, Be-YOU-tiful Lashes for Vicki!!!! 100% of my proceeds will be given in her memory to a graduating senior at Flowing Wells High School in May!! If you haven’t tried our famous 3D Fiber Lash Mascara or LOVE all natural skin care & beauty products you will LOVE Younique!!! Click the link to shop!!!
www.youniqueproducts.com/SBrandt/party/1716475/view
Apache Lake, AZ, Vicki & I
I’m so sorry for your loss and can never imagine the journey you’ve taken. I can speak to the healing embrace, the comfort and support of the Flowing Wells community though. On May 20, 2008 our lives changed in an instant and has never been the same. Patti my childrens mother was riding her bike was in a fatal accident just off the bike path south of Orange Grove coming home. The community embraced us with open arms and on many days carried me through the darkness picking up the pieces. The pricipal from Richardson Mr. Lyle Dunbar had a party at his home for all of the incoing 6th graders before the school year later that summer as the accident happened on the next to last day of school for my son who was then 11 and it casted a very dark cloud on that day. Trevor who after everthing that day leaving the hospital near midnight that day and returning the next morning to say good-bye to her, all he wanted to do was go to school to his class at end of the year and say good-bye to friends and teachers. My daughter then a freshman went to FWHS that same day as she wanted to take her finals she had worked so hard studying for.
In a few weeks on May 20th 7 years to the day of her accident, We’ll be there celebrating my son’s graduation from FWHS and as morbid as it sounds, as with my daughter who graduated from FWHS in 2011 I’ll have some of thier mothers ashes in my pocket so we can complete the complete th journey with the same friends and family from Flowing Wells we’ve shared so much with these many years…
I’m so sorry for your family’s lost…Time does not stop the sorrow, but cushions the hurt & lost..
Thank you for your kind words Terri… I appreciate it.
All my love,
Stephanie
I think they should execute anyone who has been proven of committing a murder–especially a child. Years ago, they tried and executed people only 3 to 6 months after they were found guilty; ie. the two men who murdered the Clutter family. The reason they don’t now is money, of course. The longer they can delay, appeal, or stretch out these cases, the more money the lawyers, judges, and justice system makes. Frank Jarvis Atwood had already raped and molested two kids (maybe more), before Vicki. This time, he didn’t want to be caught, so he murdered. You see this all the time, where one man murders over and over because they are paroled or let out early. But our society does this all the time; they make money off of everyone’s misfortune.