NEW ORLEANS — The mother of a woman whose dismembered body washed ashore in Mississippi nearly a year ago wants the killer or killers brought to justice but not executed.
Whoever killed Jaren Lockhart, 22, should get life in prison, Donna Lockhart told WDSU-TV (http://bit.ly/13rkG4n ). But she rejected the idea of the death sentence.
"I don't want nobody to take their life because it ain't right," she said.
The 22-year-old stripper's torso and other body parts were found on Mississippi beaches in June 2012; tattoos helped identify her. Her torso was found at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Other body parts and pieces of clothing washed up later at nearby Pass Christian and Long Beach.
Surveillance video from June 6, 2012, showed her leaving with Terry Speaks, 40, and Margaret Sanchez, 28, from the Bourbon Street club where she worked.
Both have been identified as suspects in her death, but neither has been charged.
Sheriff's investigators in Hancock County, Mississippi, had hoped to present evidence to prosecutors last week. Officials said such a meeting is likely soon.
Donna Lockhart said her daughter's loss weighs heavily on her.
"I think about her all the time," she said. "I dream about different people that I can see that killed Jaren. It seems to be the same people, but I (have) never seen these people before.
"But I keep dreaming about it."
She said her daughter made mistakes, but her death may have stemmed from her trusting nature.
"Yeah, she went down the wrong road in life and she did some bad things, but she was a good person and she trusted everybody," Lockhart said.
Information from: WDSU-TV, http://www.wdsu.com
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