For several hours, family, friends and neighbors poured into a Finneytown church to pay their final respects to a young mother and her baby son who were killed last week in a triple murder in Pendleton.
Even before the 11 a.m. visitation at the Greater Emanuel Apostolic Temple, there was a steady stream of well-wishers showing up to say goodbye to 19-year-old Noelle Washington and her 9-month-old son, Anthony Jones.
Some people arrived in cars with signs of RIP to celebrate the lives of Washington and Jones.
Washington and Jones were among three people found shot to death last week in an apartment on East 13th Street. The other victim, 3-year-old Sharailyn Wright, was at the apartment because Washington was babysitting her.
There is an outpouring of emotion and support both inside and outside of the church. Most people are leaving the church wiping tears from their eyes.
Surprisingly, anti-violence groups say they don't mind that a suspect has not been charged almost a week after the triple murder. Abdul Biali of the Cincinnati Initiative to Stop Violence says it appears police are trying to do a thorough job. "I'd rather them take time with their case and get the charges right when they are ready."
Nineteen-year-old Mark Pickens is currently behind bars on felonious assault charges. His bond was set at $850,000 bond. He has been named by police as "a person of interest" in the case, although no charges for the triple murder have been filed.
Prosecutors say they have evidence showing that Pickens raped Washington the day before the murders.
Investigators have not released any more information on the case.
The visitation and funeral for Sharailyn Wright will be held Tuesday, starting at 11 a.m. at the Corinthin Baptist Church in Newport.
