Crime victims honored in annual ceremony. ‘Tragedy brings us together’

Unity and kinship were the message during an annual candle-lighting ceremony Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Gulfport.

The ceremony is part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a national observance aimed at drawing attention to the victims of crimes and supporting them. It draws law enforcement, families of crime victims and the public from cities across the Mississippi Coast together to remember and honor victims.

“I see all these different groups coming together,” said District Attorney Crosby Parker, “and I start to think it’s that intersection of tragedy that brings us together.”

Parker noted that this year’s ceremony comes amid a series of recent violent crimes, creating even more victims. On Sunday, the body of a missing Pass Christian woman was recovered and on Monday a former boyfriend was charged in her death. In a separate incident, a teenager was killed in a shootout late Monday night.

“It has been a very difficult couple of days for the Coast and our law enforcement,” said Parker.

According to First Baptist Church of Gulfport’s senior pastor, the Rev. Jimmy Stewart, this year marks the 15th year the crime victims’ candle-lighting ceremony has been held in the church’s current location.

Rev. Stewart, who opened the ceremony, preached a message of one united Mississippi Coast and of uplifting community members affected by violence.

“May this gathering today, as in years past, be a renewed call to action, a sign that we will not forget those who are hurting, and a promise that we will fight for justice with every available resource,” said Rev. Stewart.

One such family, who says they have received justice, led the way, lighting candles around a portrait of their family member, Anthony Oatis.

Oatis was killed in June 2022 when he and a witness went to buy marijuana. The drug deal turned into an armed robbery in which Oatis was killed and the witness was robbed at gunpoint.

“It means a lot to come to an event like this,” said Oatis’ mother, Tomica Samuel, “to come together with other people that have lost a loved one.”

In February, Erick Tyrie Hunt, 28, of Jackson, and Richard “Draco” Norman III, 32, of Gulfport, were sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years in Oatis’ death. During the ceremony, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burrell noted the Oatis’ family’s patience and support of the law enforcement officers and attorneys working on his case.

“I got justice for my son,” Samuel said. “They won’t be on the streets to do this to no one else.”

The annual victims rights’ ceremony also serves as an awards ceremony for those that help victims in the aftermath of a crime.

Tuesday’s awards recipients are:

• Investigator Lance Miller of the Biloxi Police Department for his work on a 2022 investigation of the sexual abuse of two children, leading to the arrest of John Pierre, a Biloxi man. Pierre was sentenced in 2024.

• Investigator Nick Sonnier of the Biloxi Police Department for his work on a 2022 murder investigation in which Thailand native Pitipong Daengbunga was sentenced for killing his roommate.

• Maria Castellucci-Voigts, director of Canopy Children’s Solutions Child Advocacy Center, for her “unwavering commitment to excellence” and serving young crime victims.

• The Women’s Club of Gulfport for updating the safe harbor room in the district attorney’s office. The room, which was originally opened in 2012, serves as a safe space for attorneys to discuss with child crime victims.

Hannah Ruhoff

Sun Herald