Triggers

October 15, 2024

Some people who lose loved ones to gun violence don’t like to use the word “Triggers.”

Of course, I understand why this term is upsetting to them, but that word doesn’t upset me at all. It just makes me want to fight harder for John.

My number one trigger is receiving hearing notices, and I received another one in the mail today.

Because I’m a crime victim, the law requires the courts to notify us by mail of every hearing that takes place in regard to John’s murder case. That means we not only receive hearing notices for Miller the Killer but also the other person who was charged in connection to John’s murder. Their hearings are held separately so that means we have a constant stream of notices delivered to our home.

These hearings aren’t something we need to attend at this time. It’s just the judicial process where the Judge, Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys meet to handle the legal ins and outs of the case which I call ‘legal mumble jumble.’ We’ll be required to be present at these hearings when it gets closer to the trial.

Every time I receive a hearing notice; I’m taken back to that never-ending pounding on our front door in the early hours of July 29th and I hear the detective telling us John had been murdered.

Every time I receive a hearing notice; my son dies all over again.