Family holding candlelight vigil year after Cape killings

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- It's not hard for Kelly Yates of Perryville to remember the first few things she did the morning of Oct. 27 one year ago.

Like many other mornings, her mother Terry, who lives out of state, told Yates to call and check on her sister, Jamie Lynn Orman, who was nearly nine months pregnant and staying at her boyfriend's in Cape Girardeau.

It wasn't long before Yates was worried; calls to Orman, her 15-year-old son, Derrick, ex-husband and others went unanswered. Finally, she reached Orman's son Jacob, who she said was sitting in the back of a squad car. Yates was asked to come to the Cape Girardeau police station.

At the station, police informed her that her younger sister, 30, had been shot and killed. So had Yates' nephews, Derrick and unborn baby boy Joey.

A candlelight vigil for Orman and her sons will be held Wednesday. Family, friends and community members will gather from 6 to 8 p.m. at Perryville City Park's big pavilion.

Yates said it'll be a quiet night of remembrance where they'll play some songs and a video with footage and photographs of Jamie Lynn Orman, Derrick Orman and the family.

"We're going to have one candle for all the family to light off of first and then the friends and community can light their candles," Yates said. "It will be a night of honoring and remembering our precious loved ones, praying for peace and justice."

A year later, the suspects in the case -- Ryan Patterson, Michelle Lawrence and Samuel "Ray Ray" Hughes -- are awaiting trail in Missouri jails.

Patterson, investigators allege, pulled the trigger and killed Orman and her sons as part of a plot by Lawrence. Hughes allegedly took part in the plot, which was to kill Lawrence's estranged husband, not Orman, according to police, and broke into the Missouri Avenue home with Patterson.

Hughes, charged with three counts of second-degree murder, burglary and attempted arson, and Patterson, charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of burglary, have trials set for next year. Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to commit murder, has a court date set for next month.

Over the last year, many of the Orman's family members haven't missed a court date and won't stop showing up, Yates said, until they see justice served.

"It's not going to bring my sisters and nephews back, but it's all we can give them," Yates said. "It's all we can do is wait. It's aggravating, it's frustrating, but we've got no other choice."

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

800 City Park Drive, Perryville, MO

1224 Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO