Family And Friends Remember Murdered Muskogee Teen

One year ago Tuesday, 19-year-old Sara Smart of Muskogee disappeared. Her body was discovered last August; it had been stuffed into a barrel and thrown into a pond.<br/> <br/>News on 6 reporter Chris

Tuesday, January 30th 2007, 9:37 pm

By: News On 6

One year ago Tuesday, 19-year-old Sara Smart of Muskogee disappeared. Her body was discovered last August; it had been stuffed into a barrel and thrown into a pond.

News on 6 reporter Chris Wright says Smartâ€™s family and friends gathered near the Muskogee County courthouse Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil, to both celebrate Sara's memory and ask for justice.

With candles and signs in hand, those who knew Sara Smart marked a painful anniversary. It was exactly one year ago that she vanished. Any hope Sara would return disappeared when her body was found in this Haskell pond last August.

"There's what's left of my daughter, our daughter, and we would like to see justice for her murder,â€ said Saraâ€™s father Brian Smart. â€œShe was beaten, strangled and stuffed in a five gallon drum and thrown in a pond."

Sara was last seen with her stepfather Jerry Raney. Family members are awaiting the results of DNA testing they say could lead to a big break in the case. But until that break comes, they say closure will elude them.

During a candlelight vigil Tuesday night family and friends said things havenâ€™t gotten any easier.

"It's hard to lose anybody, but a child is indescribable,â€ Christine Smart, Saraâ€™s stepmother said. â€œToday brings back a lot of feelings I felt a year ago today."

Sara also left behind her own child, Julian, who is now two years old. Her family says Julian was the love of Sara's life, and for his sake, as well as their own, they hope her killer is caught.

"I want justice for my grandson. He's only two, he doesn't talk very much, but I know that he will in years to come,â€ said Saraâ€™s mother Susan Hensley. â€œHe'll want to know what happened, why, and have some answers. I want some answers for him.â€

The Muskogee County Sheriff's Department is conducting the investigation into Sara's murder. Family members say while they are frustrated that no arrests have been made, they believe the department is doing everything in its power to solve the case.

If you have any information in Saraâ€™s death call the Muskogee County Sheriffâ€™s office at 918-687-1275.