Candles were held high and prayers were said Monday evening at Monroe Park.
Students, faculty and the Richmond City Police participated in a candlelight and prayer vigil for missing student Taylor Behl.
Behl disappeared Sept. 5, and her disappearance has been a wake-up call to VCU students and the city of Richmond. The latest report on this case was when an off-duty police officer found her car Sept. 17, and police are running forensic tests on evidence that was gathered to find out what happened.
“The Richmond police have been the primary agency (behind) the investigation of Taylor’s disappearance, and (we) are treating it as a criminal investigation,” said Ray Tarasovic, assistant chief of police. “We are using all of our investigative and legal tools to bring about Taylor’s return.”
The Rev. Joe Ellison Jr., pastor of the Essex Village Community Church and one of the organizers of the event, said this vigil was a good way to bring people together to help find Behl.
“I want to speak to all the students tonight at VCU,” he said at the vigil. “It is your responsibility to look after one another. It is wonderful for all of us to come together tonight for unity in this park, but we shouldn’t have to wait for something like this for unity.”
At the vigil, Ellison introduced Daryl Holland, head of the Youth for Social Change, an organization that helps mentor and educate troubled youth. The organization works closely with Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and Rodney Monroe, Richmond chief of police.
“This is a very important issue to us,” Holland said. “We cannot lose a shining light like this.”
He also said that members of his group are passing out fliers and asking people if they have information about Behl. A reward of at least $10,000 is being offered for anyone providing information that leads to the recovery of the missing student.
“We’re doing the best we can, putting things on cars and going to businesses, asking people if they have any information to call 355-0080,” Holland said.
The vigil was also put together with the cooperation of Citizens Against Crime, whose founder, Alicia Rasin, spoke at the vigil.
“It’s extremely hard to feel the family’s pain,” Rasin said. “I think that with prayer vigils, people can really get together and help keep hope alive.”
Representatives of Behl’s family said they were pleased with all the encouragement and support they have received.
“Students of VCU, people of Richmond, and from all over the country have touched us so much with their support and their concern,” said Michael Davis, a cousin of Behl’s mother, Janet Pelasara. “Believe me, it means so very much.”
Another cousin, Beverly Martin, said Behl’s disappearance affected her in an unimaginable way.
“Words cannot explain how wonderful she is and how we want her to come home,” she said. “It has made me realize how important it is, how much the family misses her and how much we love her.”
Tarasovic gave an encouraging message to the people supporting Behl’s family about the power of community and prayer.
“It’s heartening because it is our belief that safety comes from community,” he said. “For those who believe in the power of prayer, we think that prayer motivates people, and there are people who can assist us in locating Taylor. And if the prayer this evening moves these people, let them be moved. If the prayer this evening brings folks who know folks that know Taylor’s whereabouts, let them be moved.”
Ellison said this vigil should be the spirit of the city coming together to help bring Behl home.
“We’re not doing it because this is Taylor and she just happens to be white,” he said. “We are doing it because we don’t want to do a white or a black thing, but the right thing. I don’t care if it’s in the suburbs or in the projects. Some mother is hurting because she doesn’t know where her baby is.
“We’re here because we care. This is the spirit of Richmond that we are going to come together and we’re going to unite of all races and all faiths tonight because we care.”
Davis said he was amazed by the amount of people who showed support at the vigil.
“We had no idea what to expect,” he said. “Most of these people who were absolute strangers to Taylor didn’t know her and it’s just wonderful to see so much love and support.”