When I was at the doctor’s office yesterday, I picked up the New York Post to divert my attention from the fact that I had at least two more hours to wait until I was seen. So I flipped through the paper and came upon a story on page nine about a thirty-three year old Brooklyn woman who was found by her mother in her Bay Ridge apartment – naked and butchered to death. After reading the article, I immediately felt the heartache of the mother and hoped that the killer was caught – and continued to read the paper.

At six this morning, Doug called me and asked me if I heard the story about the slain woman in Bay Ridge that was in yesterday’s paper. I told him that I did and asked him why he was asking me about the story in the paper. He told me that the reason he was asking – was because the woman that was murdered was our friend Jay’s aunt.

Instantly, the horror of the act I read about was no longer just another story in the paper. Now, it was a lot more personal – and a lot more close to home.

Whenever I read about someone who’s life is stolen from them, I instantly feel the sorriest for the family – because they are the real victims. While the person who lost their life may be gone – it is that person’s loved ones that are left alive searching for answers, hoping for justice – and trying to move on after such a horrible tragedy.

Usually, the papers are kind enough to place pictures of grieving families in the paper – because Lord forbid they would allow a family to mourn their loss in private. So for those of us that only know of the victim through the paper, we can share the grief they feel and see what one person’s senseless act did to an innocent and undeserving family. But this time – I don’t have to read an article to know how the family feels – because I spoke to Jay on the phone this morning.

I have known Jay for a little over a year now. In getting to know him – I have come to know that he is a funny, easy going, down to Earth person who is always in a good mood and always laughing at life. About to marry his beautiful fiancée Rosanna and happy with his new business venture with Doug, Jay had everything going for him and was looking forward to a good year – and now this.

I don’t think anyone deserves to have their loved one taken away from them in this fashion. I just hope that they find the slime that did this and give him the punishment he deserves. In today’s society – it’s not uncommon for someone to commit a horrible act and get little more then a slap on the wrist. I just hope that this time – the person that did this to my friend gets what he deserves – and then some.

If there is any kind of moral lesson in this terrible story, it’s that whenever we read a story about a senseless act of violence that cost someone their life – we might want to stop and say a prayer for the victim and their family – because they might be someone you know.

And Jay – anything I can do, just ask. I am deeply sorry.