By: Penne Usher, Journal Staff Writer
AuburnJournal.com
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
From left, Pat and Debbie Boyd, Lynette and Don Vanderschoot and Scott Juceam share one thing in common — they’ve all lost a daughter to tragedy. The families, along with law enforcement officials and friends, came together April 21 to raise money for Placer County programs. Courtesy PhotoDon and Lynette Vanderschoot’s youngest daughter was murdered more than three years ago. They held a dinner in her memory April 21 at Auburn’s Gold Country Fairgrounds to benefit those who helped solve their daughter’s murder.
The body of 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot, of Christian Valley, was found in a shallow grave in September 2003. Her murderers, her boyfriend and his best friend, are both serving lengthy prison terms.
Saturday night at the Gold Country Fairgrounds was all about the Auburn community coming together, raising funds and honoring Justine’s memory.
“So many people in the community and Sheriff’s Department were supportive while we were searching for Justine and we just wanted to be able to give something back to them,” Don Vanderschoot said.
More than 350 supporters, many dressed in red in keeping with the theme “Cherries from Heaven,” dined on roast chicken, tri-tip and sautéed green beans, all prepared by volunteers and donated by Raley’s and Bel Air grocery stores in Auburn.
Debbie and Pat Boyd, whose daughter Christie Wilson, 27, of Sacramento, was killed in 2005 by Mario Garcia, of Auburn, made the drive from San Jose to join forces with the Vanderschoot family.
Debbie Boyd said she felt some sense of comfort in seeing the Placer County officials that helped put her daughter’s murderer in prison.
Scott Juceam, whose daughter Hannah Rose, was reportedly shaken to death by her nanny Veronica Salcedo May 11, 2006, was guest speaker at the event.
Friends of Lynette Vanderschoot came from as far away as Fresno for the dinner event.
Proceeds from Saturday’s event will go to support various programs of the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.
Justine Vanderschoot was only 17 years old when her parents reported her missing following a family Labor Day dinner in September 2003. After weeks of searching for the missing Maidu High School student, police arrested Brandon Fernandez and Danny Bezemer Sept. 17, 2003.
FBI investigators questioned Fernandez, who eventually led them to a remote spot in Applegate to where Justine Vanderschoot’s gravesite was found.
Bezemer, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and is serving a prison sentence of 25-years-to-life. Fernandez, 26, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his part in Justine’s murder and is serving a 15-year-to-life prison sentence.
The Journal’s Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.