On October 24th, 2007
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at 1:00 a. m.
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William and Pansy Evans
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received a call that no
parents ever want to receive...
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Stay tuned to hear
about their journey...
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My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
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Urban Report...
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Hello and welcome
to Urban Report...
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Today you're going to
meet William and Pansy Evans...
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their story is
gripping and touching...
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let's get into it right away...
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Hello, Brother
Bill and Sister Pansy...
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welcome to Urban
Report... Thank you...
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Hello, Dr. Lewis...
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Thank you so much
for being with us today
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and for being willing to
share your story with us...
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So, tell us, if you
would, what was that call
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on October 24th, 2007...
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walk us through
this whole journey...
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Well, actually the event started
back on October the 23rd 2007...
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we had just spoken to our
oldest son, Christopher Evans,
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who was 20 years old...
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we were unaware that this
would our last conversation...
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we were making plans
for Thanksgiving Holiday
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and we were
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just planning for the holiday
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we were looking
forward to that event...
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and he said, "It's
10:30... you have to go...
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I'll call you
later... I love you... "
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we said, "I love you too...
I'll call you tomorrow... "
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about three hours later...
at 1 o'clock in the morning,
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we received another
call... actually, we were asleep
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and the call we got was
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
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Pansy said,
"Pittsburgh?" and I said,
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"Why is Chris calling me...
calling us at 1 o'clock in the
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morning... " to our surprise...
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when I looked at
the phone, I noticed...
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that I didn't
recognize the number,
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when I picked up the phone,
here's what he answered...
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"Can I speak to William Evans...
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this is Detective Hitches
from the Coroner's Office...
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now, you know when you hear
the word... "Coroner's Office"
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it's usually not
good news... Yes...
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"Do you have a son
named Christopher Evans?"
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I said, "Yes... " He
said, "Well, he died tonight"
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I said, "What happened?"
He said, "He was shot... "
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Oh my! so what was your
immediate response to that...
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and tell us...
kind of walk us through
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how you were
feeling at that point...
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At this point... it's
almost like you experience...
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a temporary state of insanity...
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you're not sure if you're
hearing what they said correctly
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and your mind has just
been taken away from you...
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Yes... you know...
that's... that's... again
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it's a call that no
parent ever wants to get,
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and your son was
living in another city...
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you guys are in Dallas...
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and he was in Pittsburgh...
what happened to Chris...
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tell us how he died...
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Well, what happened was that
as soon as he hung up the phone,
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there were five teenagers
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that were robbing people...
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robbing people at the bus...
where they're getting money
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to buy marijuana... a
last shooter approached Chris
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and Chris decided
to... I guess... run...
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and I guess the
individual, the last shooter,
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decided to shoot him in the
back and he ran about 300 yards
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and he collapsed and died...
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Oh my! I happened
to have known Chris
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and he was the most
delightful young man...
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very talented... tell
us about his personality.
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Chris was a 20-year-old
Christian young man...
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he was like any
other normal 20-year-old...
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he had his goals and his
dreams and was pursuing them...
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he's not our only child,
however, we have another child
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which is almost
10 years younger...
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but he took his lead
as the first child in
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wanting to pursue an education
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and that's why he was
there in Pittsburgh...
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he is also
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very comical...
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most people might not
see that side of him...
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but we do... living with him...
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Yes, he was very
funny and very verbal...
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he loved to
talk... he was a talker...
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and he and my son, Jason,
were very good friends as well
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when you mentioned
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that he had dreams
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you know, this is
Dare to Dream Network
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and we encourage our
young people to have dreams...
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what were some of Chris'
dreams, what did he want to do?
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Well, he was a
Christian young man
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and he wanted to make a
difference in his Community...
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well, first of all...
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he wanted to work for
the United States Government
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in the field of
satellite imagery...
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but he also... he
had a desire to make
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the urban community a better
place for people of minority...
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he loved people... and
he loved people a great deal
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he just wanted to
help people to see
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that there's more to life
than what's involved in drugs...
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and crime... And he
also loved to travel...
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Yes... Ah... all right so...
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he hangs up the phone from
you, and he leaves that area
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and he's walking... or
somebody approaches him...
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and is trying to rob him...
so that they could get money
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for marijuana...
that's what you're telling us?
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Right, right, right...
These were all teenagers...
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They were all teenagers...
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Okay... and so...
he ran... what happened
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after they shot him...
what was the process of finding
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the shooters and all
that... how did that happen?
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Well, we're glad
you asked that question,
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when Chris was robbed...
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actually there
were two individuals
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from the School
that at he attended...
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another individual who basically
lived in that neighborhood...
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he was robbed first...
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Chris actually saw the
robbery, he decided to run...
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after they took
a few possessions
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from this other young man...
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and then they decided to
chase Chris when he was shot...
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now too many things happened...
of course, you know when the
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shooter murders somebody...
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the shooter always
runs and hides okay...
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so there were
three individuals...
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the first was
running for his life,
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the individual that
witnessed Chris actually died...
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and he ran home and
contacted his mother...
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now in the process of
contacting his mother...
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they contacted the
police... now the individuals
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that were
involved in the robbery...
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stole about five dollars
from the other individual...
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isn't it amazing that a life
is worth only five dollars...
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all right... and
then... here's what happened...
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they stole the other
individual's cell phone...
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the police traced the cell phone
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and that's how they
arrested four of the individuals
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when they arrested
the four individuals...
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they identified the shooter...
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I see... I see... so...
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for five dollars...
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for five dollars...
someone's life was lost...
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this is what you're telling
me, you're son's life was lost,
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these guys got five
dollars from someone else...
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Right... but
from there... they are
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robbing people and
they got five dollars...
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and they are... the
thing that's so tragic
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there are so many
different tragedies in this...
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the first one, of course,
that you lost your precious son
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the second one...
that these boys' lives
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have been changed forever as
a result of stupid choices...
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I'm sorry... but it's stupid...
dumb choices that they're making
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that get them
into this lifestyle
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that their whole lives
are... they're shut out now...
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they're part of the System now,
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what happened to the
shooter... where is he now?
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Well, the shooter is
serving time in prison...
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he was acquitted
for the murder...
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He was acquitted?
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Yes, Ma'am, he was
acquitted for the murder
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and the reason why he
was acquitted for the murder
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was because the initial
DA really, in my opinion,
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didn't do a
thorough investigation
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because I believe they wanted
to come with a quick solution...
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and what happened
was... he decertified
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four other individuals
involved in the robbery
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in exchange for the testimony...
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and basically they all
went into Juvenile Detention...
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when these individuals were
let out of Juvenile Detention,
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they committed other
crime... so, during the trial,
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basically all of them
came in in handcuffs...
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And they couldn't be
held as credible evidence...
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So, the evidence
was not credible...
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all right... now
he was found guilty
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for possession
of a weapon, right?
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robbery and conspiracy...
where he's serving 12 years
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in prison right
now... now, unfortunately,
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we got word that two
of the individuals...
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or one of the individuals...
was involved in crime...
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like carjacking,
burglary... assault...
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and that we found out
on February 11 that...
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that individual was
gunned down in the streets...
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So, one of the perpetrators...
of this crime against Chris...
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has been murdered himself...
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Yeah, and you know, Dr.
Lewis, I think my wife said
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the most amazing
thing... about this trial...
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and she said, we
looked at the kid
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that allegedly shot our son
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he was only 15-years-old
at the time, by the way,
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my wife said... his
action affected two mothers,
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Yes, yes, yes...
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what were you feeling
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looking at this
guy because I know
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that you went up to
Pittsburgh for the trial...
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what were you feeling as
you actually laid your eyes
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on the person
that murdered your son?
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I couldn't
believe... he looked like such a
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fine young man...
looked like someone that
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had a bright future...
I just believe that he got
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caught up with the others...
seeing him for the first time
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really caused a feeling of
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anger... and I'm
just being honest with you
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Of course...
Seeing that, you know,
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he took an
innocent child's life...
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Yes... But... I must admit...
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that dissipated... over time...
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My! so... you sat
there in that Court Room
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hearing the details
about what happened to Chris
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and seeing the
actual perpetrators...
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and feeling
those... I would imagine...
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that you kind of ran
the gamut of emotions
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from anger and sadness...
because you're hearing
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all of the details
that you might not have...
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you want to know but
you don't want to know...
00:11:06.69\00:11:11.12
so, he was 15...
when he did this crime...
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and he is away now for 12
years but he got acquitted
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I'm still not sure
how I understand...
00:11:19.90\00:11:22.15
how he got acquitted
of the murder of Chris...
00:11:22.19\00:11:26.14
Because, you see, Dr.
Lewis, working in the field of
00:11:26.18\00:11:29.03
Criminal Justice... I
understand one dynamic...
00:11:29.06\00:11:30.99
it has to be beyond
a reasonable doubt...
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Plus, they did
not find the weapon...
00:11:33.50\00:11:35.42
Plus they did not
find the weapon...
00:11:35.46\00:11:37.31
Oh... okay... The
individual that prosecuted
00:11:37.35\00:11:40.41
the case said, even
with this she had to prowl...
00:11:40.44\00:11:42.92
there were two
individuals that chased Chris
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with the gun... one
was 14... the other was 15
00:11:45.38\00:11:47.69
by-the-way the 14-year-old
individual has about a 68 IQ
00:11:47.73\00:11:52.09
and has 3 or 4 kids... A 68 IQ?
00:11:52.12\00:11:56.00
And he has about 3 or 4 kids,
okay...children, I'm sorry.
00:11:56.03\00:11:58.60
Oh... But the thing about it...
00:11:58.64\00:12:02.15
both of these
individuals chased Chris
00:12:02.19\00:12:04.22
and what the DA...
00:12:04.25\00:12:07.27
the Prosecutor
for the case said...
00:12:07.30\00:12:08.45
that if he had
had the case first...
00:12:08.49\00:12:09.63
he would have charged
both of them with the murder
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.93
and then... we
probably would have got a
00:12:12.96\00:12:15.28
fair trial... but
the sad thing about it is
00:12:15.31\00:12:18.28
about a week later...
00:12:18.32\00:12:19.60
our DA called us and said
that ten of the twelve jurors
00:12:19.63\00:12:23.07
read Chris' story
and they said that
00:12:23.11\00:12:24.64
they rendered
the wrong verdict...
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.13
But it was too
late... But it was too late...
00:12:26.16\00:12:30.23
My... my... my... so
after you heard that verdict
00:12:30.27\00:12:34.30
what was your reaction to that?
00:12:34.34\00:12:36.73
Numbness... Yeah
there was numbness...
00:12:36.76\00:12:39.29
but for some reason...
we were not really upset...
00:12:39.33\00:12:43.13
because you have to realize...
the trial happened 18 months
00:12:43.17\00:12:47.53
after the murder...
and I must say this...
00:12:47.56\00:12:50.70
I made up my mind
00:12:50.74\00:12:51.82
I wasn't going to be
like a Fred Goldman...
00:12:51.85\00:12:53.69
who allowed this OJ Simpson case
00:12:53.72\00:12:55.70
to consume him...
and maybe because we are
00:12:55.74\00:12:58.50
Christians... we understand that
00:12:58.53\00:13:00.22
God is in control of everything
00:13:00.25\00:13:02.10
we don't like what happened,
00:13:02.13\00:13:03.91
but we do have to understand
that a better day is coming
00:13:03.94\00:13:06.83
and by faith we
will see our son again...
00:13:06.86\00:13:09.09
Yes... doesn't that
make a difference though?
00:13:09.13\00:13:11.33
I mean... it
makes a difference...
00:13:11.36\00:13:13.67
Sister Pansy... what
were you going to say?
00:13:13.70\00:13:16.88
On the morning of the
trial, I had my brother,
00:13:16.91\00:13:20.55
who pastors in New
York, he was there with us
00:13:20.58\00:13:23.29
all three weeks as
we went back and forth
00:13:23.33\00:13:26.10
and I remember him
saying one thing...
00:13:26.13\00:13:28.84
he said, "I don't know what the
outcome is going to be today...
00:13:28.87\00:13:33.17
but I just want you to remember
that God is in the business
00:13:33.21\00:13:37.48
of saving souls...
and I am not sure...
00:13:37.51\00:13:41.02
if he might have
allowed Chris' life to be taken
00:13:41.06\00:13:44.81
to save this
young man's life... "
00:13:44.84\00:13:46.96
and that stuck with me
throughout the trial...
00:13:47.00\00:13:50.24
even when I heard
the verdict that day...
00:13:50.28\00:13:53.21
I was pretty numb...
but what kept going through
00:13:53.24\00:13:58.05
my mind was the fact
that God is in the business
00:13:58.08\00:14:02.85
of saving souls... Yes...
00:14:02.89\00:14:05.15
Another thing Dr. Lewis...
after the trial was over,
00:14:05.18\00:14:08.10
and I know you
have other questions,
00:14:08.13\00:14:09.97
the mother approached
me and she shook my hand
00:14:10.00\00:14:12.05
and she said, "Sir,
I'm sorry about your loss"
00:14:12.08\00:14:14.09
and I looked back and said,
00:14:14.13\00:14:15.35
"Well, the Lord has given
your son another chance...
00:14:15.39\00:14:17.38
hope that he will
take advantage of it... "
00:14:17.41\00:14:20.89
My! you know... the
fact that you're Christians
00:14:20.92\00:14:24.37
tell us how that
really has been helpful
00:14:24.40\00:14:31.15
to you through this
journey... because... I can't...
00:14:31.18\00:14:35.08
I think every
parent puts themselves...
00:14:35.12\00:14:37.73
as they hear this
story... they put themselves
00:14:37.77\00:14:40.80
in your place... and think...
"What if that were my son...
00:14:40.84\00:14:45.30
how would I
respond... what would I do...
00:14:45.33\00:14:47.98
how would I feel?"
00:14:48.01\00:14:49.12
No one wants to go through
this, how has this experience
00:14:49.16\00:14:54.06
changed your life?
00:14:54.10\00:14:55.57
I have to be honest with you,
even though we were Christians
00:14:55.61\00:14:58.72
we were still angry... Okay...
00:14:58.75\00:15:00.81
Let's talk about
that a little bit...
00:15:00.85\00:15:02.73
We still wanted it to
end... we really did...
00:15:02.77\00:15:05.44
okay... we went through
the... you know those stages
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.65
of denial, anger, bargaining,
depression and acceptance...
00:15:07.68\00:15:10.46
Yes... there are exceptions...
00:15:10.49\00:15:13.30
You know the thing about
those stages... they are fine...
00:15:13.34\00:15:16.88
and you can go over
that process again...
00:15:16.91\00:15:18.70
even though it's been nearly
five years since our son passed
00:15:18.74\00:15:21.63
and sometimes I
still cannot believe
00:15:21.66\00:15:22.95
that he's no longer with
us... even though the evidences
00:15:22.98\00:15:24.78
are there that he's
not here... but therefore
00:15:24.81\00:15:28.57
you are angry...
00:15:28.60\00:15:29.69
Were you ever
angry with the Lord?
00:15:29.72\00:15:32.45
No, we were never
angry with the Lord...
00:15:32.48\00:15:34.85
we were angry with the
individuals that took his life.
00:15:34.89\00:15:37.37
Okay... And, because...
00:15:37.40\00:15:41.66
if you think about it...
those feelings were there...
00:15:41.70\00:15:45.27
okay... even
though... we are Christians
00:15:45.30\00:15:47.56
we still have those
feelings... some people said,
00:15:47.60\00:15:49.66
"Well why do you keep crying,
you know there's a better day?"
00:15:49.70\00:15:52.39
Because we're human...
00:15:52.42\00:15:53.47
Of course... they asked you
why... wait, wait, wait, wait,
00:15:53.51\00:15:57.72
some people asked you
00:15:57.76\00:15:59.20
why were you crying
00:15:59.24\00:16:00.62
because you knew
there was a better day?
00:16:00.65\00:16:02.43
Of course...
00:16:02.47\00:16:04.30
Oh my! talk about being
out of touch... really...
00:16:04.34\00:16:08.63
I mean... that's out of touch...
00:16:08.67\00:16:12.03
I'm sorry I couldn't
hear you say it again...
00:16:12.06\00:16:14.35
There were terrible
accusations too, okay...
00:16:14.39\00:16:16.43
you know... like
they said that I cried,
00:16:16.46\00:16:18.47
but my wife
didn't shed a tear...
00:16:18.51\00:16:20.05
you know... and I
must have felt bad because
00:16:20.09\00:16:23.98
I couldn't
control my child, so...
00:16:24.01\00:16:25.97
you've heard those accusations
00:16:26.00\00:16:27.11
but you knew that
they were not true so...
00:16:27.15\00:16:29.03
you try not to let
those things faze you...
00:16:29.07\00:16:30.88
because here's the thing...
that was only the exception...
00:16:30.92\00:16:33.87
it wasn't the norm... we
had a lot of good support
00:16:33.90\00:16:37.40
but the answer to your
question, what helped us is...
00:16:37.44\00:16:40.74
before Chris died... we
always had worship everyday
00:16:40.78\00:16:44.05
and that gave us our strength...
the Sabbath School Lesson
00:16:44.08\00:16:47.74
during the time of his
death was "The Crucible"
00:16:47.78\00:16:49.26
remember that
lesson? Ah... okay...
00:16:49.29\00:16:52.27
It was the crucible...
and when Chris died...
00:16:52.31\00:16:54.72
the lesson was... "Extreme Heat"
00:16:54.75\00:16:56.33
and it was talking
about Job's experience...
00:16:56.37\00:16:59.76
and it gave us
strength... by-the-way...
00:16:59.80\00:17:03.13
when I hear pastors
talking about Job's wife...
00:17:03.16\00:17:05.73
I say, "Listen, Job lost all ten
of his children at one time...
00:17:05.76\00:17:09.52
so, let's not be so
hard on Mrs. Job... "
00:17:09.56\00:17:14.29
Yes... yes... But,
it was basically because
00:17:14.32\00:17:18.99
we had a relationship
with God prior to his death
00:17:19.02\00:17:22.83
and all that...
and that continued...
00:17:22.87\00:17:26.01
And also, when we
look back at his life...
00:17:26.04\00:17:29.96
and the way he lived it...
it gives you an assurance...
00:17:29.99\00:17:34.28
Yes... yes... that's
very true, it's unusual
00:17:34.31\00:17:39.42
and it's unfortunate
but there are not a lot of
00:17:39.45\00:17:43.77
young guys that are
really into the Lord...
00:17:43.81\00:17:48.06
they kind of get detoured
and get into the worldly things
00:17:48.10\00:17:51.52
and Chris... loved the Lord...
00:17:51.55\00:17:53.34
and he was
involved in his Church
00:17:53.37\00:17:55.13
tell us a little bit about his
spiritual journey, if you would,
00:17:55.16\00:17:59.12
Oh my goodness...
you want to take that?
00:17:59.15\00:18:01.57
You know, I look back...
even when they had the ceremony
00:18:01.61\00:18:07.17
in the Pittsburgh Church where
he attended... and they said,
00:18:07.21\00:18:11.60
"You know, when we saw
this young man come to Church...
00:18:11.63\00:18:15.98
we wondered so much about him
00:18:16.02\00:18:17.59
because no one knew
anything about him...
00:18:17.63\00:18:20.28
except... that he
was the first to arrive,
00:18:20.32\00:18:23.82
on Sabbaths... on
Friday evening Vespers...
00:18:23.86\00:18:27.33
they had Vespers
at their Church...
00:18:27.37\00:18:30.56
and on Wednesday
night Prayer Meeting...
00:18:30.60\00:18:32.89
and he was the
last to leave... Wow!
00:18:32.93\00:18:35.16
And when he went to Pittsburgh,
the first thing he did was
00:18:35.19\00:18:38.86
look for a
Seventh-day Adventist Church...
00:18:38.89\00:18:40.36
because he valued his
spirituality more than anything
00:18:40.39\00:18:44.36
he always... he identified
God as "The Man Upstairs"
00:18:44.39\00:18:48.33
And he had a personal
relationship... with the Lord...
00:18:48.37\00:18:53.18
Yes... yes... He sure did...
00:18:53.21\00:18:55.30
and he had a love for the Lord
00:18:55.34\00:18:57.37
and his fellow human
beings... Yes, yes, yes...
00:18:57.40\00:19:00.78
how comforting has
that been as you've been on
00:19:00.82\00:19:04.11
your journey...
your healing journey...
00:19:04.15\00:19:06.32
how comforting has
that been to you...
00:19:06.35\00:19:08.45
knowing that your son... had
that relationship with Jesus?
00:19:08.49\00:19:12.16
Very comforting... Even
though we are still lonely,
00:19:12.19\00:19:16.05
Yes... yes... but...
very, very comforting...
00:19:16.09\00:19:19.11
Yes... And
then... due to the fact
00:19:19.14\00:19:22.03
that he had a powerful
impact in his Community...
00:19:22.06\00:19:25.70
you know, after he died...
we got about 110 letters from
00:19:25.73\00:19:29.42
Pittsburghers who
didn't even know him...
00:19:29.46\00:19:31.52
Wow! what did some
of the letters say?
00:19:31.56\00:19:33.56
Oh, some of them just commented
about what a lovely young man
00:19:33.59\00:19:39.03
he was... I
remember the bus driver
00:19:39.06\00:19:41.46
that used to take
him back and forth...
00:19:41.49\00:19:43.82
made the comments about him
00:19:43.86\00:19:47.68
being so polite...
00:19:47.71\00:19:49.30
once he stepped on that bus
00:19:49.34\00:19:51.22
he never did
without greeting him...
00:19:51.25\00:19:53.08
so those are the things that...
00:19:53.11\00:19:54.64
you know keep you assured
that he was living the life
00:19:54.67\00:19:58.82
that he should...
A fifth year old kid
00:19:58.85\00:20:02.37
wrote a rap song
in his honor Really?
00:20:02.41\00:20:05.89
Wow! The
music... couldn't stand...
00:20:05.93\00:20:10.95
And you know that Sunday
before he was murdered...
00:20:10.99\00:20:19.09
Hmmm... hmmm...
there were two ladies
00:20:19.13\00:20:21.11
in the Church...
and they asked him
00:20:21.15\00:20:23.06
to come with them...
00:20:23.10\00:20:24.60
well that Saturday
00:20:24.64\00:20:26.07
they asked him
to come with them...
00:20:26.11\00:20:27.34
on that Sunday to help clean
00:20:27.38\00:20:29.88
a sickened shut-in's home...
00:20:29.92\00:20:32.35
and they just said, "Chris,
come on with me tomorrow"
00:20:32.39\00:20:35.87
they weren't so sure
if he was going to show up
00:20:35.90\00:20:39.11
because a young man of his age,
to come on a Sunday morning...
00:20:39.15\00:20:43.01
early... to go
clean someone's home...
00:20:43.04\00:20:45.41
but when they got to
the Church that morning,
00:20:45.45\00:20:47.98
Chris was there before them...
00:20:48.01\00:20:50.03
My! and they said
00:20:50.07\00:20:52.38
he did a thorough job...
cleaning that man's house
00:20:52.41\00:20:55.66
and when the gentleman heard
on that Tuesday that he was
00:20:55.70\00:20:58.78
murdered... he
was so devastated Oh!
00:20:58.81\00:21:01.68
In the meanwhile, Dr.
Lewis, this happened...
00:21:01.71\00:21:04.44
and this thing had happened
two days before he died...
00:21:04.47\00:21:07.09
My! you know...
00:21:07.13\00:21:09.72
it's amazing to me that
00:21:09.76\00:21:12.60
God has sent you
these different words
00:21:12.64\00:21:16.05
of encouragement...
to comfort you...
00:21:16.09\00:21:19.43
He's so merciful... He
wants you to be comforted
00:21:19.47\00:21:23.06
through this journey...
and he let you know...
00:21:23.10\00:21:26.66
the impact that
Chris had in his Church...
00:21:26.70\00:21:30.23
in his Community... so that...
00:21:30.27\00:21:31.80
that also... can be a
source of comfort to you...
00:21:31.84\00:21:34.94
tell us about...
now... once you...
00:21:34.97\00:21:38.61
you went to Court
you saw all that...
00:21:38.65\00:21:42.22
these five years now
how have you been navigating
00:21:42.26\00:21:48.12
this journey
toward wholeness again?
00:21:48.16\00:21:51.15
We have to continue
to make adjustments...
00:21:51.18\00:21:55.12
and it's a
process that I believe...
00:21:55.15\00:21:58.50
will continue
until the Lord comes...
00:21:58.53\00:22:01.81
one thing that we
have done recently is that
00:22:01.84\00:22:04.56
we have cleaned out his
room, it is now a guest room
00:22:04.59\00:22:07.82
Ah... and initially...
00:22:07.85\00:22:10.80
that was a difficult process...
but, you know, the sudden...
00:22:10.84\00:22:14.58
we wanted to do this
interview from this room...
00:22:14.62\00:22:16.39
but it didn't work out that way
00:22:16.42\00:22:18.09
Oh, yes, yes... how long
did it take before you could
00:22:18.12\00:22:21.69
clean out his room?
00:22:21.72\00:22:22.79
Just a couple of weeks
ago... we just did it...
00:22:22.82\00:22:26.14
Wow! bless your hearts...
00:22:26.18\00:22:29.38
And one thing about our journey
we have been truly blessed
00:22:29.41\00:22:33.93
because Chris had an
impact even after he died
00:22:33.96\00:22:38.67
I remember...
there's a statement that
00:22:38.70\00:22:40.88
even though you
are physically gone...
00:22:40.92\00:22:42.94
your influence continues
to live we didn't know this
00:22:42.98\00:22:46.66
until he died that
he was an organ donor
00:22:46.69\00:22:48.67
we were surprised...
that at such a young age
00:22:48.71\00:22:53.22
he made a decision
to donate his organs
00:22:53.25\00:22:55.36
and how many
individuals were helped?
00:22:55.40\00:22:57.44
Many, many of them...
And what surprised me...
00:22:57.47\00:23:00.40
even though they recovered
his organs in Pennsylvania
00:23:00.43\00:23:03.35
where he died...
the first recipient
00:23:03.39\00:23:06.70
was a 20-year-old
male... his age... from Texas
00:23:06.73\00:23:09.57
that received his cornea...
00:23:09.60\00:23:10.73
Oh, oh, so... part
of him will live on...
00:23:10.77\00:23:15.43
and he had the
foresight to do that
00:23:15.47\00:23:21.67
as a young man... it
just kind of blows me away
00:23:21.70\00:23:24.58
that Chris was so...
ahead of his years...
00:23:24.61\00:23:27.31
you know, he was just
so ahead of his years...
00:23:27.35\00:23:30.02
and a mature...
yet a fun-loving kid...
00:23:30.05\00:23:33.05
Chris was a fun-loving kid...
and the fact that he loved Jesus
00:23:33.08\00:23:37.77
so much... is
such an inspiration...
00:23:37.81\00:23:39.85
What did they do in Pittsburgh
to commemorate his life?
00:23:39.89\00:23:45.23
Oh, my goodness...
you want to take it?
00:23:45.26\00:23:49.38
They planted a tree
on the School Campus
00:23:49.41\00:23:53.50
in his honor...
they renovated a Dorm...
00:23:53.53\00:23:57.75
and that Dorm is
now the Honors' Dorm...
00:23:57.79\00:24:01.94
Wow... they named it after him,
they named the Dorm after him?
00:24:01.98\00:24:06.76
Yes, it's called Evans
Hall... and let me tell you
00:24:06.79\00:24:10.19
an amazing blessing...
00:24:10.23\00:24:11.91
last year we got a
call from his Counselor
00:24:11.95\00:24:14.40
who was the last individual
that saw Chris alive...
00:24:14.43\00:24:16.51
he says that it's a
Dorm that's been renovated...
00:24:16.54\00:24:18.58
the Evans Hall... the GPA...
00:24:18.62\00:24:20.79
the average GPA has jumped 1.25
00:24:20.82\00:24:22.96
not a 1.25 overall
GPA... it jumped 1.25 so the
00:24:22.99\00:24:28.14
average GPA is over
3.0 in that Dormitory...
00:24:28.17\00:24:30.44
because... when somebody
enters the Evans Hall Dorm...
00:24:30.47\00:24:33.36
they explain what
this Dorm represents...
00:24:33.39\00:24:35.66
so, I'm so
thankful for that... Wow!
00:24:35.69\00:24:37.32
In addition, they established
a scholarship in his name
00:24:37.36\00:24:40.93
where individuals have
been attending schools...
00:24:40.97\00:24:44.51
so we're thankful
for that... and to me
00:24:44.55\00:24:47.17
the biggest event is that
we got a Decoration from the
00:24:47.20\00:24:50.08
State Senator of Pennsylvania
declaring him a positive example
00:24:50.12\00:24:53.57
for his Community... so
we're thankful for that...
00:24:53.60\00:24:55.50
Wow! you must be very
proud... in the Lord..
00:24:55.54\00:25:00.06
but proud of
Chris' legacy... Very...
00:25:00.09\00:25:03.40
Yes, Ma'am... even
though I would trade all that
00:25:03.44\00:25:05.20
just to have him back
but we are thankful...
00:25:05.24\00:25:06.97
Yes... for sure... for sure...
you know, the thing for us
00:25:07.01\00:25:11.51
to just keep in mind...
is First Thessalonians 4
00:25:11.55\00:25:15.33
you know... where... we
know that the Lord Himself
00:25:15.36\00:25:19.11
shall descend from
heaven with a shout,
00:25:19.15\00:25:21.38
with the voice of the archangel,
00:25:21.41\00:25:22.82
and with the trump of
God: and the dead in Christ
00:25:22.86\00:25:24.82
shall rise
first... I mean... we know
00:25:24.85\00:25:27.55
that we are going to
be with our loved ones
00:25:27.59\00:25:30.80
one day... Yes, we will...
00:25:30.83\00:25:32.69
I know that for
you... that is what keeps you
00:25:32.72\00:25:36.37
that's what keeps you going...
00:25:36.40\00:25:37.81
do you have any final thoughts
00:25:37.84\00:25:40.28
for any parents
00:25:40.32\00:25:41.74
that are going through
what you went through...
00:25:41.78\00:25:44.39
what would you say to them?
00:25:44.43\00:25:45.60
My first advice to them would be
00:25:45.64\00:25:50.38
you know... it's
devastating losing a child...
00:25:50.41\00:25:54.30
but the first
thing to remember is...
00:25:54.34\00:25:58.50
you have a choice
after that child is gone...
00:25:58.54\00:26:01.91
you could choose either
to be bitter or better...
00:26:01.94\00:26:05.28
Ah... We focused on the second
00:26:05.31\00:26:07.95
to be better... in doing so,
00:26:07.99\00:26:10.55
there are some things
that you really need to do...
00:26:10.59\00:26:13.62
first of all...
you just really have to
00:26:13.66\00:26:15.75
strengthen your
relationship with the Lord...
00:26:15.79\00:26:17.86
realizing that... He is
in the midst of all of this
00:26:17.90\00:26:23.43
secondly, I might
say... "lots of prayers"
00:26:23.47\00:26:27.91
pray continuously...
what helped me...
00:26:27.94\00:26:32.22
was a lot of self-talk...
positive self-talk...
00:26:32.25\00:26:36.21
and not avoiding to separate
yourself from your friends
00:26:36.24\00:26:43.56
because so many of
them bring you comfort...
00:26:43.60\00:26:46.82
in doing so... you
might be tempted more towards
00:26:46.86\00:26:50.07
going into depression
due to the situation...
00:26:50.11\00:26:53.29
Hmmm... hmmm...
but continue to hold on
00:26:53.32\00:26:58.65
to the hope that you have...
those were some of the things
00:26:58.68\00:27:01.72
that were helpful... for me...
00:27:01.76\00:27:03.33
And Dr. Lewis, even
though we are Christians...
00:27:03.37\00:27:06.32
it doesn't hurt to
seek professional help
00:27:06.36\00:27:09.26
Hmmm... good
point... go to a Counselor...
00:27:09.29\00:27:12.83
we went to a Grief
Counselor, and also...
00:27:12.86\00:27:14.98
you helped us as well...
you helped us a great deal
00:27:15.01\00:27:19.04
when you gave us that
little situation of confidence
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.63
and we want to
thank you for that...
00:27:21.67\00:27:23.08
Well, praise the Lord...
00:27:23.12\00:27:24.30
But the main thing is...
seek professional counseling...
00:27:24.33\00:27:28.74
if it is necessary...
00:27:28.77\00:27:30.64
a professional
Christian Counselor
00:27:30.68\00:27:32.09
they provided us with...
they helped us a great deal...
00:27:32.13\00:27:34.52
in addition, remember,
even though we miss Chris
00:27:34.56\00:27:37.65
tremendously... we still
have our daughter, Christina,
00:27:37.69\00:27:39.75
we have to continue...
00:27:39.78\00:27:41.32
we cannot let our son's
life or death consume us
00:27:41.36\00:27:45.42
where we are not
raising our daughter...
00:27:45.46\00:27:47.17
we are also trying
to get to heaven...
00:27:47.20\00:27:49.48
Yes... so, those
are some of the things
00:27:49.52\00:27:51.77
that we think
are so important...
00:27:51.80\00:27:53.58
Well, thank you so
much for being with us
00:27:53.62\00:27:55.80
we are so grateful to
you... may God bless you
00:27:55.84\00:27:58.45
as you continue with Him...
00:27:58.49\00:27:59.69
Thank you so
much for tuning in...
00:27:59.73\00:28:02.24
Tune in next time...
00:28:02.27\00:28:03.49
it just wouldn't be
the same... without you...
00:28:03.52\00:28:05.62