SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A mural preserving the image and legacy of lost loved ones is one of the best ways to honor them, according to the family of Michelle Benavidez.
The Benavidez family lost Michelle to violent crime in 2021. They say they're still learning how to cope with her death.
Her aunt, Paula Gardner, says Michelle's death was devastating to her and her own daughter but seeing displays like the Riverside County Victim's Memorial Wall where the names of thousands of crime victims are engraved on a wall gave her an idea.
"Families with lost loved ones are looking for places to pay them respects, places to have birthdays and just get together to remember their family member," she said. "It's really about coming to terms with someone killing our family member, and showing there is a community of people that are here to support you."
Michelle's mother, Rachel, says Gardner is the biggest driver in creating murals to honor Michelle's memory.
Michelle's mural is displayed at Arden & Del Paso Boulevard, and two other murals representing victims of violent crime in Sacramento are displayed off Florin Road.
Gardner plans to host a Dec. 10 candlelight vigil near the two most recent murals at 2460 Florin Rd. starting at 4:30 p.m. and is inviting the community to attend in support of the families with loved ones represented on the murals.
She hopes the vigil will attract more families of violent crime victims to seek recognition in the mural project, but she also hopes to generate donations to continue funding mural projects without paying out of pocket.
The Benavidez family established Survivor's Media and are actively fundraising to cover the cost of building the first three murals.
"Having murals of our loved ones show we care and try to be there for each other. That's why there are so many other people in the murals. There are others in our situation and when you first lose a loved one, you feel isolated, but you're really not," said Rachel.
Violet Giovanni says Gardner approached her when her daughter was killed, asking her if she'd like her daughter to be represented on a mural.
The mural now displayed off Florin Road has become a regular visiting spot for the Giovanni family.
"It's not just a helpful and healing place to remember our daughter, but also to realize she is not the only one who is an undeserved murder victim," said Giovanni. "I will be bringing extra candles and flowers to the candlelight vigil, and I hope that families will bring things that remind them of their loved ones."
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