By David Lohr

advertisement

March 14, 2007

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (Crime Library ) —  As the investigation into the murder of 15-year-old Carly Ryan continues, friends and family members packed Centennial Park's Jubilee Complex on Saturday afternoon for a final remembrance of the former Mitcham Girls High School student.

The song "My Immortal" by the rock group Evanescence played in the background as Carly's mother, Sonya Ryan, 32, sobbed quietly. Not long ago, Ryan had buried Carly's father, Maurice Ryan, and now she was doing the same with the couple's only child.

Too distressed to read it on her own, Ryan provided the funeral director with a prepared statement, from which he read aloud

"Carly was a loving and caring, humorous and strong, gifted and unique young girl who was so deeply loved by her family and friends," the statement read. "She was my love, my world, my precious baby girl."

Ryan's anger was also expressed, she wrote that Carly had been "misled and deceived."  Ryan also apologized for not being able to help her daughter.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you—all my tears turn to rage... I so deeply love and miss my beautiful daughter. Please remember this special girl with love."

"Carly was a loving and caring, humorous and strong, gifted and unique young girl who was so deeply loved by her family and friends," Ryan said.  "She was my love, my world, my precious baby girl."

For a brief moment, Ryan expressed anger at her daughter's killers, saying Carly was "misled and deceived."  As the song came to an end, Ryan looked down at her daughter's casket and apologized for not being able to help her. 

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you—all my tears turn to rage," Ryan said, adding, "I so deeply love and miss my beautiful daughter.  Please remember this special girl with love."

Carly's body was discovered floating by the Horseshoe Bay shoreline on the morning of February 20 by a woman walking along the beach.  Police found jewelry and signs of a disturbance at a nearby area called Freeman's Knob.  The day after the discovery, Victor Harbor Police announced that an autopsy had been conducted and that Carly's death had been ruled a homicide.  Police have refused to comment on how she died and would not confirm reports that she had been attacked and then left to drown. 

Next Page

Two Arrested in Murder of 15-Year-Old Carly Ryan

Fifteen-year-old Carly Ryan Found Dead On South Australia Beach

Contact  David Lohr at           crimewriter74@hughes.net

For more daily crime news