On December 9, Nueces County District Attorney’s Office held its 27th annual Tree of Angels ceremony, an emotional event that honors families who have lost loved ones to violent crimes, including homicide. The Tree of Angels tradition, founded in 1991 by Verna Lee Carr while volunteering for People Against Violent Crimes (PAVC), provides families with a space to remember and celebrate their lost loved ones by placing ornaments on a symbolic tree. This ceremony not only commemorates the lives of victims but also brings together families who share similar experiences of grief and loss.

Pearl Francis, a victim service coordinator with the DA’s office, played an integral role in organizing the event. 

“Carr founded this for families of victims of violent crimes so the families can place an ornament on the tree to represent their loved ones so they can be represented on the tree. This event also brings families together that have been through similar situations,” said Francis.

Cases represented at the ceremony spanned from the 1980s to current, with each family returning to place an ornament on the tree in remembrance. As part of the ceremony, the names of each victim were called out, allowing family members the opportunity to reflect with a moment of silence. 

Bertha Aguas, a victim advocate, helped facilitate this process. 

“With this ceremony each victim’s name is called out with the family’s opportunity to reflect with a moment of silence,” said Aguas.

Among the many families who attended, five shared their experiences regarding open cases involving victims between the ages of 11 and 25. Their stories, filled with both sorrow and hope, highlighted the ongoing struggles they face and the memories they hold dear of their loved ones.

Amethyst “Ame” Sistine Silva (11)

Amethyst “Ame” Sistine Silva’s life was tragically cut short by a stray bullet on the eve of New Year’s 2023. The bullet wound caused her death shortly after a special moment with her parents, Melinda and Robert Silva. 

“One of the biggest things that has helped me is to say, she was only 11, but God wanted her to move out a little sooner than expected. Now Rose Hill is called Ame’s House because that’s where she lives now,” Melinda continued, “She hasn’t passed, she just started her eternal life on Jan 1.”

Andrew Jr. Lee Garza (15)

On February 15, 2024, 15-year-old Andrew Jr. Lee Garza, a student at Ray High School, was shot near his home by a 16-year-old. The juvenile suspect turned himself in, and the Garza family is now waiting for justice. His mother, Seleni Salazar, attended the ceremony with her support network, including Andrew’s stepmother, Cassandra Garza. 

“I saw the event through Eriya’s family on Facebook. And knew we had to be here,” said Garza.

Salazar recounted a special memory of her son,

“He was such a character. He loved to laugh. What I remember most is how much he gave unconditional love. I wake up and remember that of my son every day,” said Salazar. 

She also offered words of advice for other grieving families: “I recommend families going through this to have a relationship with God.”

Eriya Breanne Ruiz (15)

Fifteen-year-old Eriya Breanne Ruiz was tragically attacked in her front yard on June 2, 2023. Despite the suspect being a juvenile, Nueces County Judge Timothy McCoy ruled that the individual would be certified to stand trial as an adult. Eriya’s grandmother, Rita Allen, advocates fiercely for her granddaughter’s memory. 

“By the next morning, he [the suspect] turned himself in with an attorney. Eriya, was his [Jim] only child, so you could only imagine how her father feels. Jim helped raise two step-kids, so it’s hard because he’s always taken care of others’ kids, only to have his own taken from him like this,” Allen shared.

Allen also emphasized the importance of the event with bringing families together. 

“It becomes its own community of helping each other,” she explained, “Just to get acquainted with other people, it’s amazing. With a parent I met here, Kimberly Encinia, talked about forgiving her daughter’s killer, I’m not there yet, but it still amazes me.”

Mary Encinia (24)

Mary Encinia, 24, was the victim of a hit-and-run on February 11, 2012. After more than a decade of searching for closure, her mother, Kimberly Ann B. Encinia, was able to see justice served when Michael Atkinson, the driver, turned himself in and pleaded guilty in 2023. Atkinson was handed a 10-year suspended sentence with a requirement to enter an intensive in-patient substance abuse program, among other conditions.

“When I first went to the hospital, I saw my daughter laying down and I already knew she was gone. I saw everything before they cleaned her up. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone to see a loved one opened up. Lifeless. I remember seeing her laying in the ditch, that didn’t bother me. But seeing her at the hospital … In the end, I’ve found a way to forgive him [Atkinson],” said Encinia, who continues to keep contact with Atkinson who continues to advocate for forgiveness despite the pain of the case.

Kiara Alani Smith (25)

The case of 25-year-old Kiara Alani Smith, mother of 3, who was involved in a domestic violence situation with her ex-boyfriend, Devaughan Williams, was also remembered at the ceremony. Kiara’s family, like others, continues to seek justice for her tragic death. The case is still open. Devaughan is awaiting trial. 

Deborah Dorsey, aunt of Kiara Alani Smith, attended in support of her sister-in-law.

“This is my first year attending. My niece is so mad that her daughter was taken. Right now, I just have to stay by her side to remind her to never give up,” said Dorsey.

The Tree of Angels ceremony serves as a powerful reminder that while justice may not always come swiftly, the strength of community and support can help heal wounds and foster resilience in the face of tragedy. For these families, the ornament on the tree symbolizes not just a loss, but a continuing legacy of love and a shared commitment to honoring their loved ones’ memories.