One year later, the wound of losing her daughter is still deep and the grief still very much present.
“I’m dreading this evening, I really am,” said Marie Van Diest, mother of Taylor Van Diest, 18, who died last Halloween. Taylor had been attacked and was found severely beaten near a set of railroad tracks in Armstrong. She later died in hospital.
“I constantly relive it in my head. Finding her. Seeing her in the hospital. I can’t get it out of my head. And today it’s certainly magnified, many times over,” Marie said.
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The Van Diest family is now memorializing Taylor with a trail in her honour along the set of railroad tracks where she was discovered.
“It’s a place of horror. But it’s also a place where we can remember,” Marie said.
The pathway, which was first conceptualized by Taylor’s twin sister Kirstie, is lined with pumpkins. The pumpkins are a tribute to Taylor and Kirstie’s favourite place to go: the local pumpkin patch.
“It took the longest time for them to pick out the perfect pumpkin and it was exasperating at times, but it was worth it,” Marie said.
Healing for the tragedy has been slow, both for the Van Diest family and the Armstrong community.
“We sort of lost our innocence,” said Armstrong mayor Chris Pieper. “No one is exempt from this kind of event. It can happen in any small town, anywhere.”
Matthew Foerster of Cherryville has been charged with first degree murder in the teen’s slaying. He remains in custody and is currently awaiting trial.
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