I will scan more pictures in to post later.

This has been a bad week for me; I have been at a very low point. However, today I did receive some encouraging news from the detective. Hopefully we will have preliminary results from the crime lab late next week. I know that whatever was or was not on her body is a done deal, but please pray there will be something that the investigators can work with.

Sometimes I am still shocked by everything that has happened. I know what has been going on, but there are times when someone will say something or I will think something or see something and the reality slaps me in the face. Today I was talking with my aunt and in our conversation she was talking about something someone did for her the week of my mom's funeral. When she said "when your mom died," I felt stunned for a minute. I have been in the middle of this nightmare, so there is no question of the loss our family has experienced. I am not accustomed to hearing my mom referred to in the past tense. I guess it is still so new . . . .

This is one of those times that I referred to in an earlier posting that I don't really want to talk (or post) about this now, so this is it for today. I will update you soon.

Thank you for reading and sending a link to this blog to others.

I think I was a Junior in high school when this was taken.

I am taking a few moments to vent here . . . . I am so frustrated and aggravated. A while back I contacted Sonny Perdue (Georgia's governor) for help in getting the DNA evidence processed. I hoped maybe he would help me since I live in his hometown. He responded and provided me with contact information for the GBI. I was excited that he would respond. That was followed by a great sense of defeat when I called the number he provided to the GBI and it was not correct.

I call the detectives every week. Most weeks I am told the same thing I have heard time and again. I am concerned that they have all their eggs in one basket, relying only on DNA. What happens if the crime lab is not able to make an identification using the DNA? Or what if there is not sufficient DNA to be tested? I cannot imagine.

I have sent a few emails to Nancy Grace of CNN and have had no response. Maybe my logic is faulty, but I believe if my mom's case could get more media attention the detectives would sense some urgency.

If anyone reading this has any other ideas as to who I could contact or where I could get more information, I welcome your comments or emails.

I ask for you to continue to pray for me and my family.

Nothing new to report.

Yesterday I read in People magazine that Tiffany Marie Souers murderer was found thanks to DNA evidence. You may remember hearing about her. She was the college girl who was murdered in South Carolina; she was strangled using her bikini.

I am happy for her family. I cannot imagine the emotions they are experiencing. Using GA as a standard, this was record setting speed of analyzing DNA. I am disappointed in our state. I am told it will be 1 day to 1 year before DNA found on my mother's body is processed. I don't understand the delay . . .

I am of the opinion that GA owes it the citizens whose lives have ended so cruelly and tragically to have more timely processing of evidence. I have been told many different reasons for the delay and the finger has been pointed in many different directions . . . . . . . . but there is NO acceptable excuse.

When I read this story yesterday I was angry. I feel that no one (other than myself) has a sense of urgency about my mom's case. If my family had money or if any of us were in a position of power, I feel the DNA would have been processed long ago and the murderer would be known.

This picture is of me and mom at my high school graduation in 1995. I believe we were both so proud of that moment; it was a milestone we shared together.

This blog has been therapeutic for me. I have committed myself to one posting each day. At times the pain still continues to be so bad that I feel I cannot breathe. By looking through pictures to post, I am able to escape, at least momentarily, that dark place filled with unanswered questions and regrets and grief.

Many people seem not to know what to say or how to react to me. I'm still the same person. There are times when there is nothing else I would rather talk about and others when the last thing in the world I want to talk about is this crime. I am so tired of being the girl whose mother was murdered. Sometimes I feel like a sign is hanging above my head stating as much.

To those of you who I have said the same thing over and over or told a story to again and again, thank you for being patient with me and listening. This burden is so heavy to bear, friends and family have helped more than I can express.

Happier Times

I am including pictures of my mom's life. She cannot be defined by her death and manner of death. I have to remind myself of happier times. It is so easy to lose myself in the sadness of her death, but I frequently find comfort when I think back to some of the good times.

This picture was taken a couple of years ago at the oldest of her younger brothers wedding. She is on the far right (in case you were wondering). The other people in the picture are family members.

From the look of this picture, she was saying something to someone, maybe protesting having her picture taken. One can see how full of life she was looking at this picture. At this time she had the world going for her. She seemed to be happy in her personal life. She was becoming more independent by the day. Life was good.

A Closer Look

This picture is of her and her grandson (my son) hunting Easter eggs. It was taken a couple years ago.

He was definitely the apple of his grandmomma's eye. She loved him dearly and took advantage of every opportunity to spoil him.

We have spared him the horrible details of her death, but he does know grandmomma was murdered by the hands of another. Children are so perceptive, we did not immediately tell him she was killed by another. However when he spoke of her dying, he would refer to it as "the crime."

It saddens me to think he will have to grow up and not have her in his life. I know she could have taught him some wonderful lessons. As the saying goes, if only we could turn back the hands of time . . .

Who was Carol Mathis?

Carol was born April 1, 1957. She was the oldest of 5 children. She had one daughter (that's me) and one grandson.

She was a very generous person, always looking to help others when she may have needed help herself. My mom was very kind and thoughtful. She was probably one of the most non-discriminating people I will ever know. She did not judge a person by their color, sex, status in life, or accomplishments. I believe she saw a potential in every person she met.

My mom struggled throughout much of her life. Somehow she always managed to overcome the struggles she faced. These struggles speak volumes about the strength of her character. She always persevered, never giving in. I can remember many times when giving in would have been so easy to do, but she never did.

A few of the lessons I learned from her:

• Cherish family and friends, and let these people know how you feel;
• Always be thankful for what you have in life;
• Hard work is something to be proud of;
• If you want something in life, work to obtain it;
• Don't take the easy way out.

What is this?

My mother was murdered on or about March 29, 2006. She was found strangled and beaten to death inside her apartment in Macon, GA, on Sunday, April 2, 2006. This blog is created as a means of broadcasting this unsolved crime. I have explored other avenues in hopes of getting this story into the media, but my efforts have been unsuccessful.

My intentions are not to hinder the efforts of the Macon Police Detective Bureau. I am so appreciative of all they are doing to capture the killer(s). However, I must not let this case remain unsolved.

For those who are unaware, there is a total of $6,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest. The Macon area CrimeStoppers are funding a $1,000 reward, and the Carole Sund Carrington Foundation of Modesto, CA, added an additional $5,000.

If you have received a link to this site via email, I ask you to please forward it to others you know, especially those in the middle Georgia area. To the best of my knowledge there is a murderer on the streets. Not just any murderer, but my mother's murderer. I may have been unable to help my mother fight for her life, but the least I can do is aid in finding her killer.

Taken late 2004