Unsung Heroes

Kelsi German and Michelle Cruz both lost their sisters under tragic circumstances, but they've found each other to lean on.

After the murder of her son, Corey Laykovich, Michelle Metje founded “Corey’s Network” as a way to support the families of homicide victims.

Horrific hate crimes like the murders of James Byrd Jr., Matthew Shepard, Blaze Bernstein and Heather Heyer sow terror and outrage — but some of them also sparked change. 

Delilah Saunders' sister, Loretta, was strangled and discarded in a sack by Blake Leggette and Victoria Henneberry over about $500; she turned her horror into strength, however.

Lisa Wheeler-Bowman recalled a vision of her son after his death telling her, “There are so many other people that need you — that need your help.”

Abby Honold recalled a Minneapolis police detective telling her that she should have tried saying ‘no.’

It took about ten years for Natasha Alexenko’s rape kit to be tested. The DNA that was recovered helped bring her rapist to justice.

“This little girl was incredibly brave during the horrific attack on her mother,” Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe said of Ariana Mills' heroic actions.

After 17-year-old Stacey Seaton was brutally murdered, her family endured years without an arrest, only to learn that solicitation of murder was simply considered a misdemeanor in Maryland.

Retired Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office investigator Paul Holes celebrated her publicly on Twitter last week.