By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer-Elmore/Autauga News
Nineteen colorful lanterns floated through the Prattville sky Sunday night as friends, family, and community lit candles to remember a little girl violently taken away from her family too soon.
A large crowd gathered for the candlelight vigil for Shannon Paulk at the Pratt Park Amphitheater. There was also music and speakers from law enforcement, government, and friends of the family.
It was held on the exact date as nineteen years ago when Shannon was reported missing from Prattville’s Candlestick Park. Her body was found Oct. 6 of the same year by hunters in a Wildlife Management Area in Autauga County.
The nineteen lanterns represented the number of years that have passed since Shannon’s murder. Her case has never been solved and has remained a mystery that has haunted so many in the community.
Tammy Evans, Shannon’s aunt and one of the vigil organizers, said it is important to keep telling Shannon’s story. “We are just trying to keep her name in the news with hopes and prayers that someone will say something that will bring justice for her.”
Former Prattville Mayor Jim Byard will never forget the day the Shannon was reported missing. After nineteen years, he still has the yellow ribbon representing the missing girl that adorned his mailbox. He was at home sleeping when he received a call from Alfred Wadsworth, the police chief at that time, informing him that 11-year-old Shannon was reported missing overnight.
“Every year since then, at some point on my birthday, my mind turns to Shannon, and especially her mother, Marie,” Byard said. “Our city changed in an instant, as Shannon became known to all. One of our own, a child was taken and murdered. People put out yellow ribbons all over Prattville as a reminder that Shannon was missing, and I still have mine.”
Byard said the ribbon has stayed visible in his house ever since as a small reminder that one of the city’s children is still missing.
Mayor Bill Gillespie said his daughter was the same age as Shannon at that time. Like his daughter, Shannon would have been 30 today.
“I can’t imagine the pain and suffering this family has been through,” Gillespie said. “I can tell you there’s a lot of love for Shannon in Prattville. Our Prattville Police Department is very dedicated to finding justice for Shannon. If anyone thinks of any little thing that may be helpful, please come forward.”
Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson said his office will never stop trying to get justice for Shannon. “If you know something, say something,” he urged. He read a message from District Attorney Randall Houston who said Shannon’s death “was one of the two cases in my career that have haunted me.”
One theme that ran common with many people was the hope that this case can be solved before the 20th anniversary of Shannon’s murder. There is also hope that new DNA technology can bring the perpetrator to justice.
Prosecutors in 2017 empaneled a special grand jury to probe the disappearance. It was not long after, however, that they announced that a widely distributed sketch of a possible suspect was no longer considered credible.
If you have any information that might help find who killed Shannon Paulk, no matter how small the detail, please report the information. You can call Prattville Police Department’s Secret Witness Line is 334-365-2220 or call Criminal Investigations at 334-595-0256.
You may also contact SBI.INVESTIGATIONS@ALEA.GOV or Central Alabama CrimeStoppers tip line at 215-STOP. You can remain anonymous. See more photos from the Vigil below.
