Candlelight Vigil draws family, friends to honor domestic violence victims

ASHLAND — Stories are powerful. Sharing true stories about resilience and survival is empowering. 

The message took front stage on Tuesday in Corner Park as friends and family gathered to remember Ashland County’s 10 victims of domestic violence. The program was part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

The somber event, hosted by Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Safe Haven, has occurred annually for 16 years. It involves lighting a candle for Ashland County’s 10 victims and all the other unknown victims.

Rebecca Garcia, program director at Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Safe Haven, said reading their names — remembering — is important. 

“The candle that we light in their honor symbolizes the light these women were,” she said. 

Corner Park, for a time through October, will feature the silhouettes of the 10 women who have died in Ashland County. Each one also includes their picture and a biography. 

“It’s all to remember these women,” she said.

Rhonda Bletner, Safe Haven’s campus advocate at Ashland University, read the names of the county’s 10 victims and a brief bio as family members lit candles next to portraits on a table.

Their names and bios have been attached to the bottom of this article. 

By the numbers

Domestic violence continues to impact people of all ages in Ohio.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) reported 112 fatalities stemming from domestic violence incidents from July 2022 to July 2023, the latest data available. 

It was the second year in a row for 112 fatalities, and also the second year in a row where 22 of those deaths belonged to children — the latter of which represents the most ever recorded. The youngest victim was 4 months old. The oldest victim was 92. 

The ODVN, a nonprofit, provides resources for Ohio survivors through 75 member agencies covering the state’s 88 counties. Safe Haven is one of the member agencies. The network also weighs in on policy.

Safe Haven served 8,830 people in 2023 through services and education, according to its most recent impact report. That’s up 37.6% from the previous three-year average of 6,417.

Numbers from Safe Haven’s annual impact reports include emergency shelter residents, education and outreach services and support services.

Empowerment through storytelling

Nicole Hawks, an elder law attorney and co-chair of United Way’s fundraising campaign, shared her story of growing up in a cold, loveless home with the group. Though she never lost a loved one to domestic violence, she experienced similar abuses growing up, she said. 

“I can’t imagine how it feels to lose someone,” she said, addressing the victims’ family members gathered. “But I know deep darkness and sadness.” 

Hawks said it wasn’t until recently, when she decided to go public with her personal story, when she discovered she, too, could experience happiness and be smiley like so many in her circle. 

Garcia said sharing one’s story is empowering for people who have experienced trauma. It’s a way of taking back the power held over them as victims. 

She plugged an event geared for that is happening on Oct. 15. Learn more here.

Victim’s names

• Barb Siler. Barb was murdered on Sept. 20, 2001, by her estranged husband Brian Siler in their Nankin residence and hung in their garage. Brian is currently serving 25 years in prison after accepting a plea deal to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and five other charges.
• Lynn Jackenheimer. Lynn was last seen on July 4, 2012, when she traveled to Nags Head, N.C., with her estranged ex-boyfriend Nathan Summerfield, along with their 3-year-old son and her 13-year-old daughter. Summerfield returned to Ashland with her children three days later, but Lynn was not with him. On July 16, Lynn’s body was discovered on the Outer Banks of N.C. about 20-30 miles from where they had been vacationing. The cause of death was ruled to be strangulation and stabbing. Summerfield pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder and is serving 30 to 39 years in prison.
• Billy Jo Campbell. Billy Jo was murdered on Nov. 6, 2014, by her boyfriend, Stephen Valentine. Valentine was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
• Crystal Houchin-Cooper. Crystal was murdered by her husband, Roy Cooper, on May 25, 2003, after telling him she wanted a divorce. He then shot himself. Crystal left behind a son and three daughters.
• Janice Smith-Spade. Janice was killed by her estranged husband, George Spade, on July 14, 1972. George fired shots at a car Janice was driving, causing her to crash in a ditch. She attempted to escape George on foot but tripped and was shot. George was sentenced to life in prison for her murder. He was released on parole on Dec. 23, 1985.
• Carolyn Moore. Carolyn was murdered on Nov. 30, 1988 by her ex-husband Lee Moore Jr. They had been granted a divorce in September of 1988, and Carolyn had also received a Court Order of Protection. Lee showed up to Carolyn’s residence and shot her in the head. Lee then took his own life. She left behind a son and daughter.
• Cathy Bucher-Middleton. Cathy was murdered on April 2, 1991 by her husband James Middleton. Her body was discovered in her home by the Ashland Sheriff’s Department after her sister notified authorities that she suspected something odd after leaving their home. James Middleton was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of being paroled in 15 years. He went before the parole board in December 2014 for the third time and was denied.
• Marty Martin-Bursley. Marty was fatally shot in the chest with a large caliber revolver by her estranged husband Glenn Bursley on the afternoon of June 9, 1992. Glenn then shot and killed himself. Marty had just called Glenn’s parents before the incident, but by the time they arrived, it was too late. Glenn and Marty’s boys were outside when the shooting took place. A motive was not determined, although the couple had a history of marital strife.
• Rachel Kiser. Rachel was murdered April 28, 2012 by her boyfriend, Bryan Emarth. Rachel was fatally shot at his residence after leaving work. Bryan was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of being paroled in 18 years.
• Charity Hlovac. Charity, 39, was shot and killed by her husband, Arick Hlovac, on July 15, 2019. He admitted to the aggravated murder of his wife and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 33 years.