Karissa Paige Boudreau

Karissa has been missing from the area for the past two weeks. She just simply disappeared. A 12-year old girl, not even dressed properly for the elements, isn't in the car when her mum comes out of the grocery store. The police search, divers comb the river all along sections of the town, her mum cries on tv for Karissa to come back home. Nothing. Then 2-weeks later, a gentleman finds a white, female body in the snow along the banks of the river. It's Karissa, and all the police will release right now is that trauma to her body show that the 12-year old was murdered. A lot of you may recall that I had a friend who was murdered in almost the same way. She just disappeared while waiting for the bus to go to work (she was 16-years old). The police searched, her mum (who happens to be my mother's best friend) crying on tv for her to come back home, everything and everyone being investigated. Finally, after FOUR MONTHS, two little boys find her body face down in a stream in the woods. She could only be identified by her dental records. Her skull was crushed, and an earring was pulled right through her lobe and was still laying on the ground nearby. I hope she fought. She had not be sexually molested, which is the only blessing in this story. The search for Karissa has brought everything back to my friend's mum. The story is too close to her daughter's. I'm sure she feels some relief that the girl's parents didn't have to wait four months to discover her, but rather only 2 weeks. Regardless.....those two weeks would seem an eternity. As well, the story brought everything back to me since I saved my friend's life one time....only to have her die years later in a really voilent manner. It's difficult to separate yourself from a news story of a missing girl...close in age to my friend....and close in circumstances and distance. Karissa was found within walking distance from her home, which is the same with my friend. I feel so bad for Karissa's family and friends because I know what they are all going through. My friend's murderer was never found. We can only hope that Karissa's will be, and be brought to justice for taking the life of a little 12-year old girl who was only in Grade 6 and had uncountable experiences yet to realize within her world. Karissa is at peace now. Her family and community are the ones who will suffer for many years. And even people who have nothing to do with her....but have been through a similar situation....will remember and feel the old pangs of despair. But Karissa herself is okay. May God give her family and everyone involved the peace that is needed to make it through the toughest of days and nights.