Never giving up hope
‘She’s supposed to be here. She’s supposed to be sitting in that seat, watching her children grow up.’By KATIE WILLIAMS By KATIE WILLIAMS Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Becky McCuddin sees her daughter, Lisa McCuddin, every day. But not in the way she would like.
Lisa McCuddin was shot and killed on Oct. 2, 2004. She was riding with a friend to attend a party at the Holiday Inn, in Fort Dodge, when she and her driver were shot. Her friend, Fred Murray, of Omaha, Neb., survived the attack. For four years, there have been no arrests in connection to her murder.
But Becky McCuddin wakes every morning and sees Lisa in her grandchildren, who she raises.
''I put Trez's picture next to pictures of her when she was his age and I see her in the facial features, the eyes and the big smile,'' she said. Davontrez, 4, was only 10 months old when his mother died.
Her granddaughter Markasia, 8, has Lisa's personality, she said. ''She is such a girly girl.''
The two help keep her going during the hard times, she said.
''October is a tough time,'' Becky McCuddin said. ''The kids handle it a lot better than I do.''
Even though her daughter's case has gone unsolved for four years, Becky McCuddin said she has never lost hope that justice will be served.
''Her sisters and brother have lost their hope,'' she said.
''I set goals. I keep thinking 'well, the anniversary is coming up, maybe they will make an arrest. Thanksgiving is coming up, maybe by then. Christmas is next. Maybe by then.'''
She said she was frustrated during the first year of her daughter's death because very little was being done in the investigation.
''It got to the point where I wasn't sleeping at night,'' Becky McCuddin said. ''I would call up the investigator who was assigned to the case and he would tell me he was just too busy to work on it.''
So she started writing letters to everyone she could think of, she said.
''From the mayor to the president of the United States,'' she said. ''I actually got a letter back from the vice president, but of course he couldn't do anything.''
And then Special Agent Larry Hedlund, of the Division of Criminal Investigation, was assigned to the Fort Dodge area and to McCuddin's case.
''This isn't over,'' Hedlund said. ''We're not giving up. This is not even close to being over.''
Hedlund said since the two years he has been assigned to Lisa McCuddin's death important information has surfaced regarding the individuals involved.
''We know who they are and they know they have been identified,'' he said.
Extremely important physical evidence has also been recovered, Hedlund said.
''This is still an active investigation,'' Hedlund said. ''Arrests will be made and the individuals responsible will be prosecuted.''
Becky McCuddin said she doesn't want to know too much about the investigation but wants to know her daughter isn't going to end up in a drawer somewhere, forgotten.
''They only have one shot to make a good case and make a conviction,'' she said. ''And I'd rather have them take as long as they need than to have an iffy case and a chance for them to walk.''
''Larry helps,'' she said. ''It helps to know that it is still there being worked on.''
Markasia McCuddin said it best - ''I wish they would catch them people.''
And according to Hedlund, it is just a matter of time.
''She should be here,'' Becky McCuddin said. ''She's suppose to be there sitting in that seat, watching her children grow up. Someone denied her that, and the children that, for nothing.''
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BIGWORM
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10-15-08 6:12 PM
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I WISH THAT SOMEONE WOULD TELL SOMEONE WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE STORY. THE KIDS NEED TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON OR PERSONS THAT DID THIS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID. IT WON'T BRING HER BACK BUT ATLEAST WE CAN SAY THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF JUSTICE FOR LISA AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. LISA WILL BE LOVED AND MISSED FOREVER. I KNOW I WILL NEVER FORGET HER!!!
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hybernation
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10-03-08 5:15 PM
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i cant believe this is still unsolved my goodness fort dodge is not that big of a city that rumors,&, or talk of who did it hasn't been told to somebody! that's sad!
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Doyouknow
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10-03-08 4:52 PM
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BigWorm said it best!! Lisa was such a caring person and is missed very much. Hopefully they convict the person(s) guilty of this crime.
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aarchc
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10-03-08 1:06 AM
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Let's hope those responsible for investigating remain dedicated to providing this family with the relief they deserve, as well as justice to the person/people responsible.
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hazeleyes50583
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10-02-08 10:47 PM
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I WISHED THE BEST FOR YOU BECKY I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE A LOVED ONE MURDERED AND NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHY IT HAPPENDED OR WHO DID IT I HOPE YOU HAVE JUSTICE JUST LIKE I HOPE MY FAMILY GETS JUSTICE
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justwords
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10-02-08 2:27 PM
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God bless you Becky...
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Whatever
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10-02-08 10:30 AM
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Lisa was an amazing person. My sons had her as a daycare teacher and absolutely loved her. The day before she died she had taken the both of them to the Homecoming parade. They never realized it was the last time they would ever get to be with her and have fun with her. It was very difficult telling them what happened to her and to this day they still ask around this time if anyone has ever been caught. It is good to see that Agent Hedlund has not given up on this case and I hope the next time I see her name in a news story that it is about her killer being caught!
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BIGWORM
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10-02-08 12:42 AM
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I WOULD BE SO HAPPY IF THEY CAUGHT THE PERSON WHO DID THIS TO LISA AND HER FAMILY. SHE WAS A GREAT PERSON AND FRIEND. SHE HAS BEEN MISSED SO MUCH BY EVERYONE WHO KNOW HER. LISA LOVED HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS SO MUCH AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET HER.LISA LOVED HER KIDS AND THEY LOVED HER. THEY HAVE HAD THAT TAKEN FROM THEM. I'M GLAD THAT SHE ALSO HAS ALOT OF FAMILY THAT LOVED HER. I LOVE AND MISS LISA SO MUCH.
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