Archive | anniversary

5 Years

By on June 1, 2012 in #Justice4Lily, anniversary, Lily Aramburo, missing person

Lily disappeared 5 years ago today… And yet it is still hard to believe Lily is gone. 5 years and still no answers, no arrests, only questions remain.

Is it possible that she’s still alive somewhere? She was a tiny, young person, 4ft barely 100 pounds. Her exboyfriend says she left his place angry, taking bungee cords with her and leaving behind her cellphone and belongings. How would she have managed to survive, with no money, no ID, no phone? These are the questions that linger in my mind as the years go by.

Today it is raining here in Miami. It seems appropriate. Lily loved the rain, just as I do.  
A few days ago, my girls and I released monarch butterflys in Lily’s memory. The little caterpillars came home with us on some milkweed plants we bought at Home Depot. Lily loved butterflys.

Tomorrow Lily’s son graduates from Pre-K. She would have been so proud of her little boy. He is so much like her, looks just like her too. After his graduation ceremony, we are going to Coconut Grove to plant a tree for Lily. It will be our special spot to meditate and remember.

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3 Years. Still No #Justice4Lily

By on June 1, 2010 in #Justice4Lily, anniversary, Christen Pacheco, disappearance, Florida, Kelly Starling, Lily Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, MIami Dade Police, missing, missing person




It has been 3 years since Lily Aramburo, a 23 year old South Florida mother, went missing. And the question remains, where is Lily? There is no doubt that someone holds the key to this puzzle.

Lily was last seen at her boyfriend’s apartment on June 1st, 2007. The Dadeland Village Apartments in Kendall near Dadeland Mall. We know that Lily was having relationship problems. She’d been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia. She was self medicating and suffering from substance abuse. Those last days before her disappearance, Lily and her boyfriend Christen Pacheco had been fighting a lot. 

He claims she just left. Walked out. The time was 2am. According to him, she left her cellphone and purse behind. He said she left in a nightgown and barefoot. He didn’t actually see her walking out -he had gone to the bedroom to speak with Kelly who was in bed. (But somehow) he claims she took bungee cords with her. And yet he said he thought she was just going for a walk to pick flowers.

EJ, the last person in the apartment, was sitting in the livingroom. His statements contradict Christen’s. He said he never saw Lily wearing a nightgown or pajamas and he did not see her take bungee cords. 

Christen waited  24 hours to contact police and report his girlfriend missing to Miami Dade Police Department. He made the police report before calling her mom or calling friends or anyone to inquire about if they had seen her. Isn’t that odd? Wouln’t you make a few phone calls, ask around if anyone has seen or heard from her first, before calling police? He told police that story, that Lily had walked out of his apartment barefoot, in a nightgown with bungee cords. 

A police officer took the report. Despite there being a history of police being called to that address for domestic violence, the officer failed to see any red flags. The start of our long and painful nightmare began.

If you have any information about Lily’s disappearance, we urge you to make an anonymous call to Miami Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 or 1-866-471-8477. You can also submit TIPS via their website www.crimestoppersmiami.com. 

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2 Years Ago Lilly’s Life Changed Forever

By on June 20, 2009 in anniversary, candlelight vigil, City of Miami Police, disappearance, Joe Carrillo, justice march, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, MDPD, Miami Florida, missing mother, missing person, murder, Twitter

Lily’s case remains unsolved but our resolve to find her is unwavering. We remain strong, focused and working very hard to find answers.

Sunday, May 31st, 2009, we had a Justice March and Candle-light vigil to mark the 2 year anniversary of Lily’s disappearance. Lily’s family, friends and supporters met at Cocowalk. We put on our white T-shirts, held signs and passed out Lily’s missing person posters. It was a cloudy day with bits of rain (Maybe the reason why media didn’t show?) but there was plenty of traffic and movement in the Grove. I felt sick at heart watching Lily’s mother, Lucely that day, and Lilly’s elderly grandmother with Lilly’s little boy, Palden sitting innocently in his stroller.
Lucely, Lily Aramburo's mom
Lucely, Lilly’s mother
WHAT IF

About an hour later we marched through the streets of Coconut Grove, five blocks to the location where we held the vigil; steps away from where we believe Lily’s life was taken. We didn’t know what to expect. But as our group approached 3440 Percival Ave, a City of Miami police officer arrived and parked his police car down the block. He was friendly and cooperative and stayed until the end.

Night began to fall. Lucely said a few words and thanked everyone for their support and prayers, (I tried my best to translate) candles were passed out and Lily’s grandmother said a prayer. Afterward, we had a balloon release with the help of Palden, Lilly’s 2 year old son. He released purple balloons and said “I love you mom” and “we miss you”. He’s a big boy now and is well aware of Lily’s absence.

On behalf of Lily’s family and friends please accept our heartfelt thanks to each and every person who came out and shared this moment with us. I would like to thank Private Investigator Joe Carrillo, whose continued efforts and commitment we’re so grateful for. Thank you for caring and keeping her case moving forward! Thanks to everyone who has helped in the fight to find Lily. (Including my Twitter friends, Facebook community!) Thank you to each and every person, who continues to visit this blog, your messages of encouragement and prayers give us strength during this very difficult time. We are forever indebted to you.

Please check back as we update information. Your continued support is critical to bring Lilly home! We will not let Lily’s story go away. Together we will find our missing loved ones!

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Thank You Miami Herald Crime Scene Blog!

By on May 30, 2009 in anniversary, candlelight vigil, Crime Scene Blog, disappearance, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, MDPD, Miami Herald, Miami New Times, murder, Silent March

Candle vigil to mark young mother’s disappearance to be held in Coconut Grove

From Lily

Lucely “Lilly” Aramburo, 25, was last seen June 1, 2007.

She is the mother of a two-year-old boy named Palden, and has a history of drug abuse and mental illness.

Her mother Lucely Zalvidar told a New Times reporter that while growing up in Miami she had run away from home, and had made attempts to commit suicide .

Local activists are organizing a candle vigil at 6 p.m., on May 31st, at 35 Percial Avenue, in Coconut Grove to mark the two year anniversary of her disappearance. More information at the Justice in Miami blog.

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Candlelight Vigil and Silent March for Lily Aramburo’s 2 Year Anniversary

By on May 6, 2009 in anniversary, candlelight vigil, facebook, Florida, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, media, MIami Dade Police, missing mother, missing person, Silent March, South Florida, Twitter
Community to Hold a Silent March and Candle light Vigil for the 2nd Year Anniversary of Lilly Aramburo’s disappearance.

What: Justice for Lily Candlelight Vigil and Silent March
When: Sunday May 31st at 6pm
Where: 3440 Percival Ave Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Map
Why: It’s been exactly 2 years since Lilly vanished. We need to find Lilly and we need the person(s) responsible to be brought to justice!
Sunday May 31st, the South Florida community is invited to attend a candlelight vigil and silent march in memory of my friend, Lilly Aramburo, a young mother missing from Miami since 2007. Beginning at 6pm (Eastern time), Lilly Aramburo’s mother, Lucely will lead the crowd in a Justice for Lilly silent march in front of the house it is believed Lily may have lost her life.

The purpose of the silent demonstration is to grab the public’s attention for a short time on the two year anniversary of Lilly’s disappearance to make everyone aware that Lilly is still missing, and we are still looking for answers. We understand that Lilly isn’t the only loved one that’s missing. There are many missing persons in South Florida and thousands across the country. We are remembering them and their families on this special occasion, as well. Anyone with a missing loved one is urged to attend the event and bring a photo or flyer to share. Let us stand together in solidarity.

Family and friends will peacefully deliver a powerful message to Miami Dade Police Department that Lilly deserves justice, she deserves to be found. Lilly has not been forgotten by her family and friends and she shouldn’t be forgotten by the community where she lived. We’d like to see Miami Dade Police take meaningful action. Please show your support by joining Lilly’s family and friends. Help us seek JUSTICE FOR LILLY!

I realize few of you (loyal readers) live in the Miami area, if you are unable to be there in person, we ask you to have Lilly in your thoughts and prayers while the vigil is going on. Please join us in spirit by lighting a candle for Lily (where ever you are). But to those who live in South Florida, we’d love the chance to see you in person to thank you for your support and commitment to finding Lilly these past 2 years. Although it will be a very hard day for all of us, spending it together will help us heal in a small way.

Visitors are welcome to bring a candle to light for Lilly but it is not required. Please RSVP via Facebook or if you’re on Twitter, you can RSVP below.

Media is encouraged to attend.

We’d like to give very special thanks to Anita Hunt of Nita Joy Craft Design and author of “Are You Being Bullied” for creating the lovely flyer pictured above. Nita, you’re a star, thank you for your generosity! Nita graciously volunteered after responding to my tweet. (Pictured below ~ Note: read from bottom to top)


Nita’s reply was a complete surprise. As you can see, the exchange was short and sweet. A few hours later, the flyer was done. It was that easy and carefree. So, if it’s a personalized greeting card or gift you need to help brighten someone’s day, please consider Nita Joy Craft Design. If you tweet, you can follow Nita on Twitter.

And finally, I’d like to thank Staples for donating flyers for Lilly. Thank you, Staples!! We appreciate all of your support.

Help us spread the word. Pass on the link to this post, tweet it, invite your friends on Facebook and email your network, if you have a blog inform your readers. We need your support now more than ever.

Hope to see all of you on Sunday, May 31st!

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Light a Candle for Lilly

By on June 1, 2008 in anniversary, candlelight vigil, Coconut Grove, community organizing, Florida, Justice in Miami, Lilly Aramburo, LillyAramburo, Miami, vigil


Tonight is Lilly’s Aramburo’s One Year Missing Vigil and even though all of us cannot physically attend, let’s be sure to keep Lilly, her family and those who have been working so hard at organizing this Vigil in our thoughts and/or prayers.

Great idea that I saw a member had posted on a missing persons forum, I’m quoting here…

Just a favor and a reminder.

Most of us here are not following the case of Lilly Aramburo, but she is a young Mom who’s been missing for a year tomorrow from Miami, FL. The cops did nothing for a year.

Tonight is her candlelight vigil.

Since we cannot attend, please consider lighting a candle for her where you are.

6pm eastern
5pm central
4pm mountain
3pm pacific
and so on

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Lilly will always be remembered

By on May 3, 2008 in anniversary, exploited, Florida, Lilly Aramburo, Lily Arambulo, Lucely Aramburo, Miami, missing adult, missing person, missingadult, missingmother, vigil




Lilly,
It’s been almost a year since that fateful night you disappeared – 6/2/07. I want you to know
I’ll always remember you, your stories, your contagious laugh, sense of humor, kindness and most of all, your humanity. I’ll will continue my work to tell the world about you. And won’t stop until you are found. It’s my sincere wish and I pray that wherever you are, you are safe, healthy and strong.

It saddens me so much not knowing what happened to you. Palden is getting older, he’s talking now! And soon he will start asking questions.

I can only imagine your suffering those last few days at Christen’s. I know you were arguing & fighting with Christen and Kelly. Did something go terribly wrong? WHY hasn’t he made more of an effort to find you when you were engaged to be married?? I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. And my heart is heavy for not being closer to you before that horrible night…

Until we meet again, stay strong, determined and never lose faith! Your family and friends love you and will never give up…

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