California- from www.marinij.com – About 60 people participated a candlelight vigil and procession for a slain Novato woman Monday night, but by the time the walk ended in front of her home less than mile away, at least 40 more had joined in.
As the sun went down one day after 29-year-old Danielle Keller was allegedly beaten to death in her backyard, the teary supporters formed a circle in the cul-de-sac to sing “Amazing Grace.”
Claudia Stevens, Keller’s mother, received hugs from dozens of mourners to help console her after a sleepless night. On her shirt she had pinned photos of her daughter and 1-year-old granddaughter – who was found safe near Sacramento after a manhunt that resulted in the arrest of the baby’s father, James Raphael Mitchell.
Mitchell is suspected of killing Keller, who was living with her mother and young Samantha Mitchell on Diablo Court in Novato.
“We are making a statement that needs to be made against violence and to take a stand in support of this family that is grieving after this tragic death,” said Pastor Darrell Chilson of the Novato Seventh Day Adventist Church. “There is no reason for this. This young girl, this beautiful girl, this talented girl and dedicated mother … for her to die like this is a terrible loss.”
Stevens said Keller, who had held previous jobs in the cosmetics industry, had gone on a few recent job interviews and had begun attending events with the Novato Mothers Club since returning to Marin. Known for her bubbly personality, she started to distance herself recently from an abusive relationship with James Mitchell, who lived in Pittsburg.
“She was just re-establishing her life here,” Stevens said.
Novato resident Gina Stahl-Ricco, a high school classmate who reconnected through the Novato Mothers Club with Dani, as friends and family knew Keller, led the vigil Monday night and said she appreciated seeing so many friends and former Novato High classmates.
“We are devastated over what happened to her and we don’t want to ever see this happen again,” Stahl-Ricco said through tears before the procession started at the Novato police station.
After the walk to Diablo Court, about two-thirds of a mile, Stevens thanked everybody who showed up and remarked that there were many faces she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“This has been a tremendous outpouring from the community,” Stevens said. “It’s very comforting. It’s not going to bring Dani back, but this will be a nice memory. It sends an important message about domestic violence.”
Earlier Monday, Stahl-Ricco started to break down emotionally as she watched her own daughter, Georgia, play nearby. The two moms and daughters had been to many play dates together.
“She was trying to make a good life for Sam,” Stahl-Ricco said.