Christina’s mother Gail Carnes led a vigil Tuesday, the day of her daughter’s birthday, at Crown Hill Memorial Park and Mausoleum on Pippin Road. Standing by her daughter’s grave side, friends and family members tearfully described their loss and desire for justice. The occasion was underscored by a prayer from the family pastor, the launching of balloons and cake to celebrate her birthday.
Carnes said she was motivated to get her daughter’s story back into the public eye after she learned Fairfield police had reopened the case.
“I thought about doing it (the vigil) last year, but I didn’t know where to start, so I never got started,” she said. “Knowing Fairfield police were looking into it again really pushed me to follow through with it and knowing that this year, she’s been gone basically as long as she lived.”
With new advances in forensic technology, police are hopeful they can discover new information, and Lt. Kevin Haddix said evidence has been resubmitted for testing.
Just before midnight on Jan. 20, 1994, police responded to the parking lot of La Petite Academy, 3978 Mack Road. Carnes, a Forest Park resident, was dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Her boyfriend, who was also in the vehicle, was shot twice in the face but survived.
Because of head trauma, the boyfriend wasn’t able to recall the evening of Jan. 20, Haddix said.
Family members said at least one suspect was identified early on in the case but was never arrested.
The night of the crime, Haddix was working as a shift commander and responded to the scene. After he began overseeing the Criminal Investigations Section in 2009, he knew he wanted to assign the cold case.
“I’ve always thought about it. It’s something I wanted to open back up,” he said.
Police have no indication whether Carnes knew her perpetrator or if it was a random act of violence. Haddix, who would not say whether police believe there were witnesses, said a resolution to the case is “only one phone call away.”
“I’m hoping that someone will see this who was either involved in what happened or has heard about who was involved and someone would call CrimeStoppers and let them know who did it,” Carnes said. “I would have some closure. The facts of what happened won’t change and it won’t make the hurt go away. But knowing someone will get justice for what they did for my daughter, it will show that they can’t shoot her and go on with their life.”
Richard Wilson contributed to this report. Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or kcano@coxohio.com.
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