When I first learned of the well publicized atrocities committed against the little girl pictured above, I struggled to understand how these events could have taken place. I was struck with a state of disbelief and denial. I asked my God where He was. I asked “Why?” countless times, all the while certain there could not be a justifiable answer. I grieved and sobbed uncontrollably with sympathetic sorrow.
Despite the defense mechanism to try and banish the horrible truth from my mind, the reality remains: This little girl, Riley Ann Sawyers, was savagely tortured and beaten to death by her own mother and stepfather.
She was struck repeatedly with belts and her head was held underwater. Her face was shoved into pillows. Her hair was pulled and she was thrown across the room. She was thrown against a tile floor so hard, it resulted in multiple skull fractures. Instead of calling 9-1-1, the monstrosities that were her “family” gave her children’s pain reliever.
Riley died from her injuries that night. She was dressed in clothes from the local Walmart and Target and wore little pink and white shoes with velcro straps.
They took her little lifeless body, wrapped it in plastic garbage bags, and placed it into a storage bin. They allowed her body to decompose in a shed behind their home for two months.
In one final heinous act, they dumped the bin containing her body into Galveston Bay. Her mother watched her float away.
All of this is a very harsh reality, and one that is permanently scarred on my heart.
As I grieved from the news, I kept encountering a question: Can justice ever be served for Riley Ann Sawyers, this precious child?
…Seemingly not, for any violence beget by violence would only temporarily quench the anger of our hearts. Even if this seemed the right choice for justice, an “eye for an eye” could never exist in this case. The monsters that took her life have total disregard for humanity and are completely unable to return to the level of innocence a two year old has. How can justice be served?
Justice cannot be served by sentencing her murderers to life in prison. Winning life sentences would mean our resources would be used to allow her murderers to breathe air we don't feel inclined to share with them. They would eat three meals a day and a sit in a cell not nearly as cold as the silk lining of a buried child's casket. How can justice be served?
Even those who oppose the death penalty suddenly find themselves thirsty for blood. Yet screaming for cruel and unusual punishment and swift executions should make us wonder whether the wrath we wish to inflict upon her murderers honors this little girl's life, spirit, and innocence.
Punishment is certainly due, but however much punishment we inflict will never grant justice. How then, can justice be served?
These things are true:
Nothing on Earth will ever give us an opportunity to relish Riley’s smile in person or hold her tightly in our arms.
Nothing on Earth will give us the opportunity to look into her pretty eyes and ask her how her day is, or what toys she wants for Christmas, or what she wants to be when she grows up.
Nothing on Earth will give us an opportunity to try and heal the pain she felt when looking into the eyes of her mommy and with the helpless screams and pleas of a two year old ask, “Why are you doing this? Please help me. Don’t hurt me. I love you.”
If justice for Riley is your desire, I believe it is attainable, for I am resolved now. After the reconciling of all my emotions and logically attempting to make sense of such illogical, evil, and tragic set of events, the answer is upon me. If you've asked yourself the same questions I have when hearing the awful truth, I offer the answer to you...
Riley died for no reason, but reason can be made.
Let me be clear: May no child ever suffer such horrific fates, but also, may Riley’s death never be in vain. What happened to her was out of our control, but our response is fully within our means.
For every blow Riley suffered, may the knowledge of her story inspire us to honor this precious child and perform many miraculous and humanistic feats. May the smile of her picture remind us altruism is very much alive and can conquer evil. Let us inspect our hearts and feel the welling up of good spirit.
Whether our lives have taken downturns, or our lives are as perfect as can be, we must remember Riley Ann Sawyers. We must never forget her.
I ask you let her life have meaning by being compelled and taking action on what you know is right and good. Be good in all that you do, as you will gain everything and the impact of your good deeds will cascade through countless others.
Do it for Riley and justice will be served.
If you wish to donate to Riley Ann Sawyer's surviving family, which includes her grandmother, Sheryl Sawyers and her biological father, Robert Sawyers (truly good people,)donations can be mailed to: FirstMerit Bank, 7800 Reynolds Road, Mentor, OH, 44060, Attn: Ellen Forbus.
Another immediate way to be good is to help spread Riley's story by letting people know about www.ForRiley.org. Thank you.
If your heart tells you to respond to this open letter, you may e-mail me at riley@jf3.com.
