Thanks Jo Ann. It wasn’t like losing a loved one. What I’ve been left with was a sadness for her family (as I mention I never met them) and for her life, so full of promise, cut down by someone who just randomly chose her to be one victim in a long line of victims. When it happened, nobody knew there was a serial killer roaming the streets of Houston.

Ellen had a big personality and a real presence- so for her to become a victim was proof that he could have grabbed anyone. I’ve always been amazed at the girl who got away from him by throwing herself off of a balcony. He wasn’t waiting around to choose someone weak- he went with whomever crossed his path- as long as she was a woman.

And of course you are right, we don’t know what life is going to hand us.