Memorial planned Thursday for South Park stabbing victim

We received this announcement from Beth Yockey Jones, a West Seattleite who used to live next door to Teresa Butz, the South Park woman killed by a man who broke into her home and attacked her and her partner early Sunday. (Ms. Butz is shown at left in a photo from Facebook.) From Beth:

The South Park Community Center has graciously volunteered to host a candlelight memorial vigil so that friends and neighbors can gather and celebrate Teresa’s memory.

We will gather at 7.30pm on Thursday July 23rd, on the South Park Community Center ball fields and share memories and celebrate Teresa’s life. If you would like to say a few words, there will be an opportunity to do so.

I also created a Facebook event page here –
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107364352557

If you need more information, you can e-mail Beth: bethyockeyjones@gmail.com Meantime, no new information on the case today – aside from police adding one note to the description of the killer – saying he had “blotchy skin.” Get the latest here. NOTE: Beth added in comments that the gathering will be in the “grassy area between the parking lot and softball fields” because of a prescheduled event on the field.

thanks July 21, 2009 (9:21 pm)

I didn’t know her but live in West Seattle and she and her partner are heavy on my mind all the time. Thank you for organizing.

WTF July 21, 2009 (10:41 pm)

“Dance as though no one is watching you, love as though you have never been hurt before, sing as though no one can hear you, live as though heaven is on earth.”
~ Souza

My heart is laden at the mere thought an innocent woman died senselessly at the hands of violence. I am so sorry for her family whether by blood or love. Prayers of strength for you…

meg July 21, 2009 (10:57 pm)

Does anyone know if this was an attempted theft or rape? Or a targeted hate crime? Or?

WSB July 21, 2009 (11:48 pm)

Don’t know if anyone “knows” aside from the killer. Police aren’t saying what, if anything, they have learned, so far – TR

JustAnotherJenny July 22, 2009 (7:21 am)

I live in RI and cannot get these women out of my head. I’m just heartbroken for them and their family and friends. My deepest sympathy and heart felt condolences.

Lachlan July 22, 2009 (9:56 am)

Something I read in the times makes me really wonder about the motive of the attacker:

“The partner was hysterical, Barrientes said. Teresa Butz, before she died, said of the attacker, “He told us if we did what he asked us to do he wouldn’t hurt us. He lied, he lied,” Barrientes said.”

The same article also says that Teresa sacrificed herself for her partner.

Tragic. I am saddened, though I did not know them.

Ms Pam July 22, 2009 (9:56 am)

How a person can’t be safe in her own home makes this killing all the more horrific! My heart goes out to the victim, her partner and her family and friends. The only thing that will help is getting this horrible horrible person and put him away FOREVER not a measly 12-16 years. The punishment must be stronger than the crime…

Alex & Lon July 22, 2009 (10:22 am)

Words cannot express the sorrow. I wish these women would have had a gun handy or a large dog. My prayers go to the survivors. This is heartbreaking

beth yockey jones July 22, 2009 (11:50 am)

UPDATE: We will be gathering in the grassy area between the parking lot and the softball field, as the big fields were unavailable due to a previously booked event.

lizzy July 22, 2009 (8:26 pm)

How to comfort the partner left behind? If there is a support fund please let me know.

TP July 22, 2009 (10:26 pm)

My thoughts are with this family…

Terry July 23, 2009 (7:32 am)

Thank you for adding the information on the discription.

Kathy July 23, 2009 (11:48 am)

We in this neighborhood feel as though we, too have lost a member of our family. I know that none of us will rest easy until he is caught. I will be at the vigil as will a number of my sisters from the Seattle Women’s Chorus. This entire community has lost such a value person. My thoughts and prayers are also with her partner as she struggles through this horrific event.

Kevin July 23, 2009 (4:12 pm)

As a friend of Teresa’s partner, I can say that this couldn’t have happened to nicer people. Teresa’s partner has a big world of support in New York, where she lived previously, and we will be having a vigil as well.

Angeles July 23, 2009 (11:22 pm)

I was there while she was lying on the ground, I saw when they were trying to bring her back to live. But Unfortunately,nothing. This has truely touched me and I still can’t beleive it has happened, my most sincere sorrow. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

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