Five years after her son’s death, a Tulsa woman says his memorial was removed.
Kesha Rivers visits the memorial placed where her son died often, until one day she says the memorial was suddenly gone.
Her son, Elijah, was just seven years old when he was killed near the corner of Harvard and Virgin on Halloween morning in 2012.
Rivers said, “Him and his foster sister were on their way to school, and unfortunately someone hit him.”
The family made a memorial with Elijah’s toys and flowers. The mother said, “We’re still keeping his memory alive, and that just helps.”
But Elijah’s mom says a few weeks ago, she passed by and Elijah’s belongings were gone. His memorial was no where to be found.
She says she spoke to the man who lives in the house just feet away.
Rivers explained, “He was cutting his yard and I asked him what happened to it, and he really wouldn’t say anything. He told me he had been taking care of it. He wouldn’t really tell me what had happened to his cross, the gate we had around it, the animals.”
Rivers claims the man told her he took the memorial down because he had to cut his grass.
Barry Gamble, the mother’s fiance, said, “As far as I know, on the other side of the water meter is the city’s property. The opposite side is the property of the person.”
Rivers said it’s hard for her to pass by and not see her son’s memorial, so she put down Halloween decorations in its place.
But a scarecrow and a few pumpkins can’t replace her child’s belongings.
Rivers said, “I actually would like my sons things back. They’re memorabilia of things that he had, and we just placed them here.”
The man who lives in the house was not available for comment.
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