Mom says thieves have stolen daughter’s memorial

LAKEWOOD – Michelle Stricklen-Long finds comfort visiting the makeshift memorial at the site where her 17-year-old daughter died in a head-on collision.

But, twice since April 1st, someone has stolen the memories left behind."The first time when I saw it, I felt like I was re-victimized," Stricklen-Long said.

On March 13th, Samara Stricklen was riding with a friend on Alameda Parkway when police say a 16-year-old girl driving an SUV crossed the center line and smashed into them. Police say the SUV driver may have been drunk.

"She died here that day and this is a place I can come to pay respect," said Stricklen-Long. Family and friends had placed pictures, letters, and a cross at the scene.

"It's a huge part of the healing process," said Ashley Godkin, Samara's friend. "It really hurts because they're taking things away that Samara has drawn or pictures or thing's she's written."

Samara's mother said she contacted Lakewood Police. She said investigators checked with different departments and that no one from the city is taking the memorial down. Stricklen-Long believes it is the work of thieves.

"There was nothing left and we don't know why," Stricklen-Long said. "It's just a senseless act." She said the first theft was April 1st. Family and friends rebuilt the memorial, then someone removed it again on April 20th.

"It hurts to think somebody would just take it away like it meant nothing," said Godkin.

Stricklen-Long wants the public to identify who's taking the memorial for the thieves to just stop hurting Samara's loved ones again. "Let us honor her memory, of Samara, we want to continue that forever," she said. "We'd like to have all the things back that were taken, because it's Samara's. It's her things."

The driver the car Samara was in is now home after spending weeks in the hospital. Seth Mutschler suffered serious injuries but is now recovering slowly. No one in the SUV was seriously hurt. The 16-year-old SUV driver is still awaiting charges as a grand jury reviews the case.

Even though, Stricklen-Long believes someone is trying to take away her memories of Samara, those memories will never fade away. "We vow to not give up," she said. "We'll just continue to keep putting things back."