Recently, discussion has been brought up around missing and unsolved cases in Oregon, particularly around, or pertaining to, Sweet Home.
Veronica Seals from the KEPW radio station put on a candlelight vigil on Saturday, June 22, for many people who have gone missing. Some of the mentioned names were Jake Riggs, Danny O’Berg and Tammy Pitkin.
According to Seals, the goal of this event was to come together as a community and help bring a voice to those who have gone missing. In one case, two ladies said they were there due to a lack of closure in the killing of a close family member, Dean Jurika.
The event began shortly after 7 p.m., with attendees gathering in the gravel parking lot on the corner of 18th Avenue and Long Street. Led by Seals, discussion began around some of the missing people and gratitude for people attending.
Not long after this, Cheyenne Patton sang “Come Home,” a song by OneRepublic. The chorus to this song is as follows: “So I say to you, ‘Come home, come home,’ ‘cause I’ve been waiting for you for so long, for so long.”
Following the song, local pastor Mark Opperman led the group in a prayer.
The event continued on as Seals announced to everyone they were going to make a march towards the PD to demand answers. Patton began to sing Katy Nicholes’ “In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible).”
Shortly after that, attendees began peacefully marching towards the Sweet Home Police Department. During this march, chants were heard.
“Justice for Danny, justice for Jake,” Seals said, leading the march.
After arriving at the PD, Seals used a PA system requesting to speak with an officer regarding these missing persons cases.
The event lasted for a total of well over an hour and a half, with a portion of it taking place at the PD. The event ended in everyone walking back to the gravel parking lot, concluding with a group picture and close discussion.