By Andrew Edwards
And Sarah Stephens
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Jim Byard, at right, was Mayor of Prattville at the time Shannon was reported missing. He said the tragedy tore the community apart, but simultaneously brought it together.
It was a warm, windy evening on Saturday night as droves of citizens from the Prattville area gathered at the Pratt Park Amphitheater to honor the memory of Shannon Paulk with songs, speeches, and the releasing of lanterns.
Today, Aug. 16th, marks the 20-year anniversary of the day Shannon was reported missing from her neighborhood in Candlestick Mobile Home Park.
Shannon’s story:
For newcomers to this area, her name may not be familiar. But for members of the surrounding area who lived here at the time of her disappearance, the memories are still very strong, and difficult. For the family members, they have not forgotten the sweet little girl who loved everyone, and was a common presence in the neighborhood.
Shannon was just 11 when she disappeared. Despite thousands of manhours, national media publicity, features on multiple unsolved crime shows, her killer has never been positively identified, or faced justice. The theories of what happened that day are numerous.
People can still remember what they were doing when the news was first released of her disappearance. Residents offered prayers and their help to search. Ultimately it would be hunters who found her remains in a wooded area of north Autauga County.
This case has never been considered closed by area law enforcement, especially the Prattville Police Department. Hundreds of people were interviewed over several years. Leads were followed, tips came in. But so far it remains one of the biggest unsolved cases within the Prattville community.
Even in the midst of the unsolved case, community members have remained hopeful throughout the years that Shannon’s killer will be brought to justice.
On Saturday night, prominent officials of Prattville, past and present, gave their insight into how Shannon’s death affected the community as a whole – including Jim Byard, who was the Mayor of Prattville in 2001.
“In 2001, our city was a lot more innocent. We had never had an issue like this before. We certainly were not exempt from having crime, but never before had we seen a young person go missing like this,” Byard said. “But our community pulled together, really like I had never seen before. Officials from the area are still working on solving this crime. It’s not going to bring Shannon Paulk back, but it certainly would close a chapter in our city’s history.”
Mayor Bill Gillespie was also present at the vigil. He offered words of comfort to a family and community who are still, 20 years later, left without any true answers.
“I feel like the loss of Shannon ripped this community apart, but it also pulled us together as well. It made us a lot more dedicated and vigilant of our surroundings,” Gillespie said. “There’s a lot of work that’s still to be done, but I have full confidence in the City of Prattville. We are dedicated to this family, their friends, and to this community – that justice will be served. It might not be in this world, but it will come.”
David Humphrey, founder of the non-profit organization Alabama Alliance for Human Trafficking and Child Safety, spoke after Gillespie. He explained that he created the organization to help fight crimes against children and to educate the community about child safety and human trafficking.
“Our goal is to keep our children safe. We want to keep this case fresh and to remind people – if you see something, say something. Be that voice for your community. Even the smallest piece of evidence could blow this case wide open, and possibly even solve it. We will continue to work with our law enforcement agencies to ensure that our communities are safe and that our children are being protected,” Humphrey said.
After the sun completely set and Humphrey walked off the stage, event organizers helped the crowd light their own individual candles. The audience prayed and listened to music, which was quickly followed by a moment of silence.
Twenty lanterns were then lit and released into the night sky – signifying the number of years since the passing of Shannon Paulk.
At night’s end Paulk’s mother,Marie Stroud, spoke about the impact that Shannon had on her life.
“She always had a smile on her face, and there’s not a single day that goes by where I don’t think about her,” Stroud said. “It means a lot to me, our family and friends that so many people came out her to remember her 20 years later. To this day, I know she’s looking down, smiling at all of us.”
Shannon Paulk would now be 31. Family and friends said they often wonder where she would be in life. Perhaps she would be a mother herself. Sadly, they will never know. But the hope remains that answers will be forthcoming, and justice can be served for her unsolved murder.
