Wheelchair Bound Woman Killed

Moss Point Stabbing Family and friends of Donna Slater are in mourning after she was found stabbed to death.

by Chad Petri

Published: Sun, March 08, 2009 - 7:54 pm CST Last Updated: Sun, March 08, 2009 - 9:12 pm CST

Police tape and window seals still line the very quiet grounds of 46-year-old Donna Slater's home.

“Hard hard hard, it's hard to bear, some of this, real hard,” says Donna’s father Wayne Osborn. He lives next door to his daughter. Wayne says he was alerted something was wrong Thursday afternoon by the victim's teenage son. That's when he found his daughter dead near the back door.

“I ran over there and felt of her pulse and I know she was gone then you know, I couldn't believe it you know, still can't,” says Wayne. Family members say Donna was born with an open spine. They say she worked hard to overcome health problems and lead an independent life in a wheel chair.

“She fought many a battle, but this was a battle she couldn't win you know,” says her father. Family members say not only was Donna fiercely independent, she also had a spunky streak

“Her favorite saying was always ‘hey turn it up louder’ that was always what she wanted you to do when you were playing music she was a feisty thing, she was a fighter,” says her cousin Mitch Osborne. Contrary to published reports, family members say the victim always locked her doors. Those close to Donna have been gathering at Donna's parents’ home.

“It's such a shock in a small community that something like that can happen you never think it's in your own back yard,” says cousin Mitch. He says they don't want the investigation to stop until they find justice. Mitch Osborne says funeral arrangements are this week.

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