Staff photo / Bob Coupland More than 20 people attended a tree planting memorial Sunday afternoon at the corner of Highland Avenue and Oak Street in Warren to remember Warren native Jamelia West and her three children, Trey, Jamiere and Jakia, who were murdered 20 years ago this month. People placed red roses around the base of a planted lilac tree.

WARREN — It was in 2006 when Warren native Jamelia West and her three young children were found murdered in Columbus, and now 20 years later local organizations and West’s family and friends will continue to remember them as a lilac tree was planted Sunday at the corner of Highland Avenue and Oak Street.

Tamisha Howard and Antonio Jackson with #J43JT and the Community Outreach Collaboration organized Sunday’s event, which had purple and yellow balloons and placement of red roses around the base of the lilac tree.

More than 25 people attended the memorial to West and her two sons, Trey and Jamiere, and daughter, Jakia.

Howard said the location is a neighborhood community garden and West’s mother, Victoria West, lives in the neighborhood.

“Her mother can come here any time since she lives nearby,” she said.

Howard said the message being sent is domestic violence is not to be tolerated.

She said domestic violence will be hard to end, but with efforts by people, its effects can be lessened.

Howard said no justice has been served in the 20-year-old case. She said the four were killed on June 7, 2006, but were not found until June 21.

Howard said a peace walk is planned June 21 in the neighborhood where West, 27, and her children had lived

West lived most of her life in Warren before moving with her children to Columbus in 2005.

“Jamelia and her children are deeply missed,” Jackson said.

Alyssa Norman, assistant director for Trumbull County Domestic Violence Services Someplace Safe, said domestic violence is “an everybody issue.”

“With domestic violence it affects everyone, not just one family. When we talk of the survivors we also have to remember those who were not. Statistics unfortunately keep going up with fatalities in Ohio,” Norman said

In Columbus, law enforcement was not able to connect the man believed responsible for the four deaths, she said,

“When we looked at Jamelia’s case and statistics with the threats to be killed and strangulation, she was at a higher risk of being a fatality,” Norman said.

She said West’s story is still told 20 years later as an example of the problem of domestic violence and what advocates do to make change.

“Jamelia West did all things correctly to protect herself and her children. She had received threats, was smothered and strangled and called police and received a protective order. She moved to Columbus to protect her children. She did everything correctly and possible to protect herself and her children and it still was not enough,” Norman said.

She said these signs indicate someone who is likely to be murdered by an abuser.

“These stories continue to be told. Jamelia West and her children and others are why we continue to be advocates and do the work we do,” she said.

FAMILY ATTENDS

West’s parents, Roy and Victoria West, and her brother, Jamir Kai, attended the event, with each placing flowers at the base of the lilac tree.

Roy West of Warren said his family appreciates all the support they have received from the community and Someplace Safe.

Kai said the event is “bittersweet.”

He said his sister and her children were loved by many and all had a love for life.

“It is tragedies like this that no one wants to see happen again. There needs to be change,” Kai said.

He said he appreciates what everyone has done to help his family through the difficult situation for 20 years.

“My mom and I lived nearby and my sister and her family who we are memorializing also lived nearby. This block means a lot to us,” Kai said.

Roy and Victoria West said they also appreciate all the love and support people have shown for the family.

“The lilac tree is unique since they do not have as many from when I was growing up. It is nice to have a lilac tree in the neighborhood,” Roy West said.

Leroy McKenzie said he will always have good memories of the West family and seeing Jamelia and her brother Jamir growing up.

Jackson said the tree will be a reminder for everyone to remember West and her children.

“Domestic violence is an underlying issue. There are too many senseless acts of violence. People need to listen. Domestic violence is something no one should have to go through,” he said.

Jackson and others spoke about their memories of West and her children.

“She was a beautiful soul. She and her children did not deserve this,” Jackson said.