TACOMA -
On the 4th of July, it will have been 2-years since 12-year-old Zina Linnik was kidnapped behind her Tacoma home and murdered.
Zina's uncle Anatoly Kalchik says, "Zina was a wonderful person. Zina was a beautiful person and she had an open heart to everybody."
Zina's dad speaks Ukranian, so Anatoly interpreted for him, telling us how they're trying to go on. "But every time the 4th of July is approaching, the wound is like opened again and the family has to go through the same pain all over again," says Kalchik.
Terapon Adhahn, a convicted sex offender, was arrested and led police to her body. He pleaded guilty to rape and murder and got life in prison.
Zina's family is satisfied with his sentence, but Kalchik wants even tougher laws to keep people like Adhahn off the streets.
Meanwhile, police in the town of McCleary in Grays Harbor County are still trying to find 10-year-old Lindsey Baum who vanished a week ago. They fear she was kidnapped. Zina's father says, "I understand what they're going through because we had to go through exactly the same thing."
Plans are in the works to build two memorials for Zina in Tacoma. One will be at Wright Park and will feature a playground and community plaza. The other will be at the new McCarver Park and will also have a playground, along with Ukranian art and a wall that's inscribed with a poem that was read at Zina's candlelight vigil.
Kalchik says, "Yes, we are glad the city is working on the park and that they want to remember Zina."
Here's how to learn more about the park memorials for Zina Linnik: Http://www.metroparksfoundation.org/zina-linnik-project-at-wright/
Zina's uncle Anatoly Kalchik says, "Zina was a wonderful person. Zina was a beautiful person and she had an open heart to everybody."
Zina's dad speaks Ukranian, so Anatoly interpreted for him, telling us how they're trying to go on. "But every time the 4th of July is approaching, the wound is like opened again and the family has to go through the same pain all over again," says Kalchik.
Terapon Adhahn, a convicted sex offender, was arrested and led police to her body. He pleaded guilty to rape and murder and got life in prison.
Zina's family is satisfied with his sentence, but Kalchik wants even tougher laws to keep people like Adhahn off the streets.
Meanwhile, police in the town of McCleary in Grays Harbor County are still trying to find 10-year-old Lindsey Baum who vanished a week ago. They fear she was kidnapped. Zina's father says, "I understand what they're going through because we had to go through exactly the same thing."
Plans are in the works to build two memorials for Zina in Tacoma. One will be at Wright Park and will feature a playground and community plaza. The other will be at the new McCarver Park and will also have a playground, along with Ukranian art and a wall that's inscribed with a poem that was read at Zina's candlelight vigil.
Kalchik says, "Yes, we are glad the city is working on the park and that they want to remember Zina."
Here's how to learn more about the park memorials for Zina Linnik: Http://www.metroparksfoundation.org/zina-linnik-project-at-wright/
