Remembering Brianna Parish

Alabama Troy Hundreds gather in Malbis to "celebrate" the life of Brianna Parish

by Pat Peterson

Published: Wed, November 19, 2008 - 7:58 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, November 20, 2008 - 11:31 am CST

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service in Malbis Wednesday for Brianna Parish. Parish went missing from a Daphne bar last week...the young woman's body was found three days later in a wooded area off Main Street. The memorial service, called "A Celebration of Life," was emotional and touching. Before the service, Brianna's father, Bruce, spoke briefly to reporters outside the Bay Community Church.

"We would like to thank the amazing number of friends, family and even strangers who came and expressed their love for Bri and our family," says Bruce Parish. "We were truly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who came...We knew Bri was a very special young woman but learned from many of you that she was even more special than we ever imagined."

Inside the church, Brianna's family and friends spoke to the large crowd attending the celebration service.

"Bri, when you died, I died too," says Lauren Smith, Brianna's best friend. "You were my other half, my better half, we were connected and I love you and will miss you."

For the second straight day, the Daphne Police Department offered no updates or new information in the search for Brianna's killer. News 5 has learned that a person of interest in the case worked at Daphne Utilities seven years ago and could have worked at the waste-water treatment facility wear Brianna's body was found. Troy MacDonald, labeled by police as a person of interest, worked at Daphne Utilities before he left and went to work at a body and paint shop in Fairhope. MacDonald has not been arrested and hasn't officially been named a suspect in Brianna's death.

"Unfortunately, we live in a very dark world that knows no bounds. It was this darkness that has taken Bri from us all and with her a very bright light that has left a much darker place," says Brianna's father.

Brianna Parish was 21-years old.

Click here to listen to the statement Brianna's father made before her funeral.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Video
Photo
Map

Embed:

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

News –› Daphne

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Download Video

rosepetal Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:28 pm

AuntD, i am so sorry for your loss. i do not blame you for being upset. it is so terrible. i really hope the voters do take notice. i am sure they have. i just hope wkrg does not let this story fade until the person who did this is brought to justice. again my deepest sympathy to you and your family.

RebeccaSEdwards Says:

Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:28 am

I myself have wondered why the FBI hasn’t been asked to be involved, knowing there is a sexual preditor on the loose and one sweet innocent girl has lost her life. If this guy did it, the FBI could have DNA analyzed so much quicker then here in Mobile/Daphne. Daphne Police Department needs to with the program or they are going to have MANY outraged family, friends and community members, including me, after them!

AuntD Says:

Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 7:42 am

dlabm wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:23 AM:
” Please explain why Daphne Police keeps saying we are working on the case, we cannot give any information, and they only guess if it puts a shadow on my niece? The only impression I have gotten from the Daphne Police and the City is they are more concerned about their reputation than finding the KILLER, Why havent they accepted help from the county and other agencies, especially the ones who offered. Since they have yet to reach out with any compassion, no calls or make any kind of gester of compassionate human motion, Hello did any of you reach out to our family attend a service,does anyone in Daphne Govenment Care, voters please note it could of been your child. I am ashamed of YOU.
auntD