06/07/2024
A candlelight vigil will be held on Saturday, June 8, in remembrance of seventeen-year-old Valerie Tindall of Arlington, who was murdered one year ago on June 7 by her then 57-year-old neighbor and boss, Patrick Scott. Valerie was first reported as missing when she didn't return home from work. But after a six-month investigation, Scott admitted to the family's biggest fear: he had murdered Valerie the day she went missing. Since then, Valerie's mother, Shena, has asked herself one question repeatedly, "How am I going to survive this?"
"I cling tight to God, but it still hurts like hell," Shena said. "I still miss her more than words can express. Try having your heart break every single day, like with your first love. It's kind of like that. It literally takes my breath. I hate to think of the future. I don't want to. I can't. She won't be in it like before."
The past year has been incredibly difficult for Valerie's family. They've had to adapt to life without her and witness her miss out on huge milestones she was looking forward to, such as her 18th birthday and high school graduation.
Despite the pain and heartache, the Tindall family wants to focus on celebrating Valerie's time on earth and never forgetting the beautiful person she was.
"We are having a day to remember our beautiful girl," Shena said. “A day to make sure we never forget what a beautiful soul was taken from us, far too soon. She had so much to give, and so many miss her deeply.
We want to make sure that people remember Valerie and who she was, the real her.”
Valerie's memorial will begin at 6 p.m. Anyone who would like to participate or show support for the Tindall family is invited to attend. The family kindly asks those attending not to bring balloons for release.
"Please come and bring a candle,” Shena said. “We will have a few words, a moment of silence, and light candles. We decided to do it at the park next to RCHS, where she would have been graduating."
Photo of a memorial for Valerie at RCHS graduation provided by Mallory Angle
Reported by Cassie Garrett