JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – About 100 people came together Thursday night for a vigil remembering a 62-year-old music teacher who was found murdered last week in her Panama Park home. The group then conducted a crime walk to search for tips that could lead to an arrest in her death.
A cross placed in front of Deborah Liles' home has become a symbol for the neighborhood to try and catch her killer.
Shortly before dusk, family, friends, neighbors and even strangers gathered outside the home on East 59th Street, which became a murder scene last week. A lot of people traveled a long way to attend the vigil. Most knew her or her family, but some didn't even know Deborah, they were just touched by her story.
Her husband, Michael "Mike" Liles, told News4Jax that he had just come from viewing his wife's body.
"I just did get to see her for the first time since I found her and that was not easy. She's pretty badly bruised, but as beautiful as she ever was," Mike said.
As he spoke, the couple's son, Rocky Liles, patted his father on the back for support -- also devastated by his mother's murder.
"I just want to be here for dad. I appreciate the support," Rocky said. "We have so many people that love and care about us, that love and care about mom, and just knowing how powerful her love was in this community, it's overwhelming, but it's keeping us above water."
RELATED: Husband of slain teacher asks community to 'keep your ears open'
The group then lit candles as several loved ones said a few brief words about Deborah.
It was also announced that Deborah's favorite singer Josh Groban, who she had recently met during a trip to New York City with her husband, donated $1,000 to the music program at San Jose Elementary School, where she taught.
"We love this neighborhood and the people in it. They have certainly loved us and, hopefully, we can find out any information that may be available and, at the same time, bring more awareness to how unexpected these kinds of things can be," Mike said.
Within minutes, the group then got to work, canvassing the neighborhood with the help of crime-fighting group MAD DADDS and going door to door to ask if anyone had any information that could lead investigators to whoever is responsible for Deborah's death.
"I think the support is overwhelming. It makes the city more aware of crime that's out there," Dale Kennon said. "Hopefully, we can catch the people. She was a wonderful lady."
The group also handed out flyers for blocks in the area.
"It's very shocking. We need to protect our neighborhoods, say something when we see something and more people need to get involved," said Nancy Seely, one of Deborah's friends.
Mike said he believes more than one person was involved in his wife's murder because, along with her car, which was found later, several items were taken from his family's home.
"I think that it is important. I think that, potentially, by walking and showing support, neighbors might feel empowered to make a phone call," Katie Elksnis said.
Richard Skule did not know Deborah, but said he was so touched and outraged by her story that he traveled from the Southside to the Panama Park neighborhood to participate in the crime walk.
"It's never excusable, but this seems to be a random act to a wonderful person," Skule said.
Police officers were present, but kept their distance during the walk. News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith was also there, and said that sometimes people don't feel as comfortable talking to police, which is why they try to stay in the background.
The family has planned a viewing from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Deermeadows Baptist Church on Baymeadows Road. Her memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Police continue to investigate the murder. Anyone with information is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Not first attack on teacher
Deborah Liles was unfortunately not a stranger to violence.
Two decades ago, she survived a brutal attack at the same house when she was about five months pregnant.
I-TEAM: Music teacher describes attack in 1993
Her attacker, Curtis Head, was a career felon with 33 arrests before he went to Deborah Liles' home looking to do yardwork. When she turned him down, he broke in through her back door, tied her up, beat her and robbed her.
Head had been out of prison just 47 days when he committed the home invasion and is now spending life in prison for the attack.
“I think the best thing for his life at this point would be to eliminate the possibility of him ever doing anything like this to anyone ever again,” Deborah Liles said during the trial.
News4Jax covered the story extensively in 1993 as Deborah Liles took to the witness stand to stare down the man who brutally beat her.
VIDEOS FROM THE VAULT
1993 sentencing hearing in Deborah Liles attack |
Sentencing in 1993 Deborah Liles attack |
Liles family celebrates Thanksgiving after 1993 attack
“Once he put his hand around the back of my neck, excuse me, I faced death. I laid there on the couch, and I thought, 'I love being a mother of four children. I don't want it to end,'” she testified. “I have hospital bills. I have scar tissue on the inside of my mouth that may be there, but that's minimal. The impact is it has changed my perspective of life. I love life, but I had an event happen to me that should have only happened in the movies.”
Deborah Liles' family and students are shocked that something so horrible could happen twice to the same woman in the same house.
“We're not reckless, careless people,” Mike Liles said. “Both times this has happened now, it's clearly been someone who has been more focused on what they want as opposed to recognizing the value of the lives that they're hurting. You don't want to believe there's that many people out there like that, but clearly, there's more than we want to believe.”
After Deborah survived in 1993, she and her husband fought to strengthen laws. When the family celebrated their first Thanksgiving after the attack, Deborah Liles spoke about the gift of life.
“With a lot of things in life, you have to come near losing it or almost lose it to appreciate it, and life is one thing that I almost lost,” she said.
On March 23, she did lose her life, but the question her family wants answered is: Who took it?