In 1990, a group of women artists and writers in Minnesota became alarmed by the growing number of women being murdered by their intimate partners or acquaintances. These women partnered with local community-based agencies and formed the Arts Action against Domestic Violence. Together, they began to speak out against domestic violence and honored those who died as a result of this epidemic.   The women created 26 free-standing, life-sized red wooden figures, each one bearing the name of a woman whose life ended violently at the hands of a husband, ex-husband, current or ex-partner, or acquaintance. A 27th figure was added to represent those uncounted women whose murders went unsolved or were erroneously ruled accidental. The figures were called the Silent Witnesses.

On February 18, 1991, more than 500 women met at a church across the street from the Minnesota State Capitol with the Silent Witnesses. The women formed a silent procession escorting the figures single file across the street, up the steps, and into the State Capitol Rotunda for public statements and a press conference. The sheer volume of space the figures occupied spoke of their power, and their loss. The Silent Witness Exhibit was officially launched.

Inspired by the exhibit, the project coordinators and supporters formed a national initiative dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence homicides. Today, there are Silent Witness Exhibits in all 50 states and in 20 countries. Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties maintains its own Silent Witness Exhibit each year during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. To commemorate the lives of the victims who died as a result of domestic violence in Cumberland & Perry Counties, we would like to share their stories.

Carolyn Hosfelt, 51
April 11, 1994

Carolyn was a school bus driver for Big Spring School District. She was a mother of four, and a proud grandmother of eight. She loved spending time with her family and her dogs. She was killed during an argument with her male housemate who then turned the gun on himself. No criminal charges were filed in this murder-suicide.

Randi Trimble, 28
January 10, 2003

Randi was murdered in her East Pennsboro home by a hit-man hired by her husband. Her husband admitted to planning her murder in order to receive life insurance. Randi was found strangled and stabbed 27 times in her garage. Both the hit man and her husband pled guilty to first-degree murder and are serving life in prison without parole. Randi’s mother, Nancy Chavez, founded Randi’s House of Angels, a nonprofit that offers referral and support services to those who are suffering from domestic violence. Learn more at www.randishouseofangels.org.

Melissa Conrad, 26
April 14, 2003

Melissa was a 26-year-old mother of two who was kind-hearted and loved by everyone. Melissa moved in with her mother after separating from her ex-boyfriend, who was serving a prison sentence for previously assaulting and threatening her. After being released from jail, her ex-boyfriend assaulted Melissa in her mother’s backyard. He repeatedly stabbed her and cut her throat, then fled to Arkansas where he was arrested after a high-speed police chase. He pled guilty to second-degree homicide and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Kim Anne Houser-Keefer, 32
May 17, 2005

Kim Anne Houser-Keefer always prided herself on raising two beautiful daughters. She was strong-willed, witty, and had a beautiful smile. She was shot to death in the parking lot of her daughter’s elementary school by her ex-boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself.

Toni Clouse Myers, 42
July 15, 2006

Toni was a 42-year-old mother of 3 beautiful children (Shea, Ryan, and Jordyn). Toni had beautiful blue eyes, a hilarious sense of humor, and was the type of person that everyone loved. She was an excellent mother. Toni was shot and killed by her controlling ex-boyfriend. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Toni’s family maintains a website in her honor, which you can view here: http://toni-clouse-myers.memory-of.com/.

Sherie Lee Deardorff, 47
October 1, 2009

Sheri was a giving and loving person, and was the light of her mother’s life. Sherie loved animals and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers Fan. Sherie was murdered by her controlling husband, who shot her eight times. He pled guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Nicole Faith Berman, 27
December 28, 2010

Nicole was an energetic and passionate young attorney at MidPenn Legal Services when she was murdered at her home in Mechanicsburg by her fiancée. By all accounts, there was no history of violence in their nine-year relationship. However Nicole had recently become troubled by her fiancée’s increasingly disturbing behavior. As a young child, he had witnessed the murder of his stepfather by his mother. As an adult, he failed out of many colleges, and was obsessed with violent video games. Three days after Christmas in 2010, he ‘snapped’ and strangled Nicole to death. He notified police the following day, and turned himself in.

Trisha Marie Edelman, 22
January 12, 2011

Trisha was a beautiful, loving person, and was a wonderful mother to her daughter, Ryleigh. When she was 18 weeks pregnant, Trisha was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, from whom she had an active protection from abuse order. Her ex-boyfriend pled guilty to criminal homicide, murder of an unborn child, prohibited possession of a firearm, and theft by unlawful taking of a weapon. He was sentenced to 20-40 years in state prison.

Lisa Jane Goss, 26
June 11, 2011

Lisa was the mother of two children, Rebecca and Matthew. Lisa had a contagious laugh, a beautiful smile, and a heart of gold. Her ex-girlfriend, who had a history of stalking and verbal abuse, shot her to death in her own home, and then turned the gun on herself. Lisa’s 17-year-old son was home at the time, and was able to escape and call for help.

Trisha A. Sadler, 29
June 17, 2011

Trisha was a beautiful, vivacious, 29-year-old woman with a radiant smile that could light up a room. Trisha’s boyfriend, who had discovered that she was going to leave him, slit her throat while she was sleeping and dismembered her body, hiding it in trash bags in the bedroom of her home. When Trisha failed to show up for work 2 days in a row, her coworker called police. After a 7-hour standoff, her boyfriend was eventually taken into custody. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Mary Tolbert, 85
December 3, 2013

Mary was a loving mother, wife, and grandmother. She was brutally murdered by her 54-year-old son who beat her, stabbed her, and cut her throat. He and his girlfriend then attempted to hide her body and clean up the crime scene. An anonymous tip to the Carlisle Police Department caused the police to visit Mary’s home, where her son confessed to murdering his mother for drug money.

Cori Elizabeth Sisti, 23
July 5, 2014

Cori was a beautiful, loving woman who had a smile that could light up a room. On her 23rd birthday, Cori was on her way to a family picnic with her daughter and fiancé, when her fiancé drove their car in front of an oncoming train. Cori was killed immediately, her fiancé suffered a broken arm, and her daughter was critically injured, but survived. Her fiancé had been under the influence of drugs at the time he was driving, and had a history of domestic violence.

Ciara Faith Meyer, 12
January 11, 2016

Ciara was a beautiful, happy little girl, with a contagious laugh and beautiful brown eyes. Ciara loved Christmas, shopping, and animals, and enjoyed spending time with her family. Ciara was accidentally shot and killed during the service of an eviction notice on her father. When a Constable arrived at the home, Ciara’s father pointed a loaded gun at the Constable, who opened fire. Ciara’s father was shot in the arm, but the bullet traveled through him and struck Ciara in the chest, killing her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her father, who had a history of violent and reckless behavior, was charged with Ciara’s homicide.

Sue Lyons, 54
July 15, 2018

Sue was a wonderful mother and grandmother with an amazing sense of humor and a gift for making others laugh. After a day out visiting with her daughter and parents, Sue was in her car when her husband suddenly appeared and fired three shots through her car windshield. The car drifted down the driveway and across the street. He proceeded down the driveway and fired one final shot into the driver’s side window and then opened the door to look at Sue. He walked back up the driveway, left a rambling message to his son, and then killed himself in the backyard of their home.

Kaylee Lyons, 23
July 31, 2020

Kaylee was a vibrant, beautiful, and energetic young woman who loved life and enjoyed every moment given to her.  She was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Everyone who met Kaylee loved her personality and her laugh. Unfortunately, because of the actions of her children’s father, Kaylee’s life ended way too soon and unexpectedly. Many red flags, secrets and miscommunications placed a wedge in her relationships as she tried to cover up the mental, verbal, and physical abuse that led to her tragic death.

Joanna R. Miller, 51
April 10, 2021

Joanna was such a special person.  She loved her family, and family traditions.  You could find her crocheting or reading. She was known as Gaga by her grandbabies, Mom by her two daughters and son-in-law, Jo by her friends, Sister by her two sisters, Daughter, and Aunt by her nephew. She cared for her mother until her passing in 2008, and her special needs daughter, Sierra. She always put others first. For several years she lived with and helped her father who was suffering from old age.  Joanna and her step mother were shot and killed by her father.

Melissia Hinton, 65
April 10, 2021

Melissia was kind and gentle soul.  She loved her step-grandchildren and could always be seen with a dog cuddling close to her.  Melissia and her daughter-in-law were both shot by her husband.  She initially survived the gunshot wound and was rushed to the hospital.  There she continued to decline and died April 20th, 2021.  Before she was taken to the hospital, she was able to still speak and told the police that her husband shot her.  Her family continues to talk about her and misses her deeply.  

Jessica G. McCulloch, 36
April 6, 2022

Jessica Genevieve McCulloch was a loving wife to Brandon and mother to twin sons Tristyn and Cayden, daughter Peyton, and stepson Caleb.  She was also a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend. Jessica had a passion caring for children. As her mother’s best friend, only daughter, and business partner – the two co-owned LBA Daycare.  She made a huge impact on the children in her care, and also served as a role model for staff members, coworkers, and friends.  This amazing life was tragically cut short when her ex-boyfriend entered the second-floor bedroom while they were sleeping, confronted Jessica, and shot her and her husband. He then shot himself.