Kaiti Perras was a fiercely talented young woman who her family said was on the verge of greatness. She was an accomplished ballerina, and her family is proud she was a confident and genuine young woman.
His voice breaking, Kaiti’s father, Gregg Perras, said she did everything at her own pace.
“I have so much regard for that. She didn’t let people push her around; she was such a strong person.”
SPECIAL SERIES: Remembering the Brentwood 5
Her family is steadfast in keeping her memory alive.
“I don’t want people to forget her, and I want people who don’t know her to know who she was.”
Shannon Miller, Kaiti’s mother, said she’s surviving day to day.
“Nothing and no one will ever take Kaiti’s place. There is always that missing person.”
READ MORE: Timeline of the Brentwood tragedy
Kaiti’s stepmom, Kam Laraway, is doing what she can to help her 10-year-old daughter cope with the loss.
Kaiti’s little sister, Aliyah, has visions of Kaiti and the other four young adults in heaven.
“She’s in a little different place than the adults and in her child’s mind she has finished this story for the five. I kind of wish we’d all get there.”
Kaiti’s older sister, Nicky, is clinging to the happy memories she shared with her sister.
“Everybody is going through something they should never have to go through. It’s awful–that’s the only way I can put it.”
Online extended feature: Kaiti Perras’s mom, Shannon Miller, speaks about how she wants her daughter remembered–not how she died, but how she lived. Kaiti’s stepmom, Kam Laraway, talks about one of her cherished memories when Kaiti was a little girl.