“You really just feel like your soul has been ripped out,” said Susan Taynor, Sacco’s mother. “The feeling of loss at such a heinous act — it’s so mentally painful.”
Since her daughter’s death, Taynor said they’ve received an outpouring of support from the community. Many have donated flowers in her honor: Jessica’s dream, lavender and daylilies.
To commemorate her life, the family has put together a memorial garden at 3457 Ohio 560 in Concord Twp. They’ll hold a public memorial service to lay Sacco’s ashes to rest within the garden today from 6-9 p.m.
“It’s not just a garden, it’s a memory for a lot of people (and) how this has affected a community,” Taynor said.
There will also be a dedication ceremony for the Urbana Police Department, which Taynor said did “an amazing job” arresting those responsible for Sacco’s murder.
“We were surprised how well it all fell into place,” she said.
Never a “princess girl,” Taynor said her daughter loved fairies and Harry Potter and the color green. Since she comes from a family of gardeners, she said she hopes the memorial will bring peace despite her violent death.
“(Puccio) took her body but he will never have her soul. He will never have her spirit,” Taynor said.
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