Murder Must Be Solved
My sister-in-law, Danielle Shinaver, was murdered March 14. She was 25, a bubbly, outgoing woman who loved to be the center of attention. She was my best friend. In fact, when she and my brother broke up, Danielle moved in with me. She was the grounding piece in my life.
Danielle worked at the McDonald’s on Third. She loved her job. She worked behind the counter and she never thought the job of “hamburger flipping” was demeaning. She was proud to know she wasn’t on welfare.
A co-worker of Danielle’s came over to my apartment at midnight and said, “Danielle’s been murdered.” I felt immediate rage. My best friend was dead!
The police started their investigation, but seven months have passed and so far there are no suspects and no leads that I know about. I am beginning to lose hope that the murderer will be found. I am so frustrated because this murderer is still out there in our community - maybe dating someone you know. He may murder again, especially if he realizes he got away with it the first time.
I believe everyone talks and I believe the murderer has, too. Maybe he told friends what he did or maybe he told the woman he is sleeping with now. I’m appealing to the public to come forward if they know anything at all about my best friend’s murder. Call Secret Witness at 327-5111. They even offer a $2,000 cash reward.
I want this murder solved, because it will stop the fear. And it will help all of us who loved Danielle go through the grieving process. Danielle left behind three children, ages 8, 7 and 5. One day recently her youngest, a girl, climbed onto my lap and said, “Where’s Mama?” I said: “The brightest star in the sky is your mama looking down on you and keeping an eye on you.” My three children also miss Danielle very much.
We’re printing her picture with this column, instead of mine, in the hope it will jar someone’s memory and they will come forward with information that will help catch her killer.
I miss Danielle’s laughter and light-heartedness. I miss her ability to find the good in the bad. And most of all, I miss her friendship.
Until the murder is solved, I can’t let this go - and I won’t. I don’t want Danielle swept under a rug, another murder statistic. She was a human being, filled with a love of life. She deserves more.
MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.