u/Val-dad

This is Valerie's dad.

Some time has past since the sentencing and life is settling down. Yet there is one thing I feel I need to do yet......forgive Rex Heuermann. I'm not mad or angry at him or wish him any harm in his imprisonment.

What he has done is done; it's behind me in the past. I'm a realist.

I'm not to the point of a 'committed' forgiveness yet. I think more time has to pass and more of God's abundant grace must fill me.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
 *In all your ways acknowledge Him (*give Him the honor He is due),
And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

God's word is always true.

Ed Mack:

Mr. Heuermann, you may have done horrendous things to Valerie's earthly body; but you have not touched the real Valerie.

To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Everyone you've joked with, worked with, married, snubbed or killed, is born an immortal creature; they will live forever either in majestic glory or unimaginable horror.

I can only imagine when my day comes and I find myself standing before Jesus, Valerie will be next to Him.

JoAnn Mack:

What you have done to our family is beyond what words can express. Even though justice is done, it can not replace what you have taken from us, or can it give our beloved Valerie back her life here on earth. I do, however, want you to understand that even though you were able to commit these horrendous atrocities against our daughter and no matter what sense of power or control you felt over Valerie’s body, you were never able to reach her soul. I’m telling you that unless you get yourself right before God, Valerie is the one who is free today and you are not. She is living her life with her savior Jesus Christ. What you have done has gained you nothing.

Today Valerie would be 50 years old if she remained on this earth. We, her parents, spent this day in quiet remembrance of her, doing our usual tasks.

We have a 'multi-season' tree in the dining room on which we change the LED colors to suit the holiday. We turned the tree blue today; it's her favorite color.

We know we can't change the past and all that's happened, so there's no use dwelling on it. And we know Who's in charge and He has His reasons for everything. I've learned over the years just to trust Him; His grace and peace over these 26 years has been amazing!

Justice is being done and the final period of the last chapter of Val's earthly life is about to happen. But, to paraphrase C. S. Lewis, There is no such thing as a mortal human; we are all born immortal beings. We all will spend forever in everlasting glory or indescribable horror. So I can only imagine when my day comes and I see Jesus, Valerie will be by His side.