By reporter Steven Smalley
Scott Davis holds a photograph of his late wife Stacey who was murdered under the Magnolia Bridge.
About 25 people took part in a vigil in downtown Seattle Wednesday to honor Stacey Davis, the homeless woman murdered under the Magnolia Bridge August 24. The hour-long remembrance at the Seattle Justice Center was attended by members of Women in Black, a homeless women?s organizing effort, which is made up of similar community groups. Members present at the gathering included homeless advocates, religious leaders, and Scott Davis, the husband of the slain woman who barely escaped with his own life during the assault.
Davis tells Magnolia Voice he still has no permanent place to live, but is staying with friends during this difficult time. He revealed he was, ?Pretty sad and overwhelmed,? when asked how he was holding up. ?It?s been a lot of chaos,? he explained.
Kelle Brown, the associate pastor of downtown Seattle?s Plymouth Congregational Church, says those experiencing homelessness should be seen as fully human.? ?My heart is broken. We must make sure there are safe places for those who are experiencing homelessness. This is our clarion call to wake up,? she implored. ?These are people, not a brood of criminals.?
The vigil began?at noon when attendees stood in two lines facing the street in front of the courthouse. Scheduled for an hour, only 30 minutes had passed before a steady rain began. No one moved as the gatherers remained in position for the entire hour.
Rev. Monica Corsaro, the Chaplain at Mary?s Place, an agency that ?empowers homeless women to get off the streets and have homes again,? spoke at the vigil to remind everyone to not forget all homeless women who have died.
?Having a safe home is not a privilege, it?s a right,? she said. ?That could have been me. That could have been my daughter. The only thing that she did wrong was that she was poor. Let?s try to have people not sleeping under bridges and call them homes.?
Stacey Davis was allegedly beaten to death by a man who lived near her and her husband under the Magnolia Bridge. The suspect, Allen Pulphus, 52, who has numerous arrests for assault and drug offenses, is being held in the King County Jail on $500,000 bond. He is ?to be arraigned ?Sept. 10, according to the Seattle Times.
Services for Stacey Davis are planned, but have yet to be announced.
A vigil was held in downtown Seattle September 2 to remember Stacey Davis.