Ribbons A Memorial For Rachel Services Scheduled Tuesday At Shadle Park High

Don’t forget Rachel.

That was the message Fawn Nelson and others who gathered Saturday afternoon at Ridgeview Elementary School wanted to send in the wake of third-grader Rachel Carver’s murder.

A rainbow of ribbons laced the chain links of the baseball backstop at the northeast corner of the school grounds. A large pink banner displaying the message, “We will miss you Rachel” swayed softly in the breeze. White paper doves held the banner at each end.

Rachel’s picture taped to the backstop served as a reminder of the freckled little girl’s smile.

“The one good thing is that she is not hurting now,” Nelson said.

Rachel was killed by a blow to the head Wednesday morning on what would have been her last day of third grade. Her body was discovered late Thursday in the brush along Aubrey L. White Parkway in northwest Spokane.

Memorial services are scheduled Tuesday. A private service will be held at 3 p.m. at North Central High School. The public is invited to a service in the auditorium at Shadle Park High School at 7 p.m.

Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Nelson, who lives across the street from Ridgeview, began tying purple and white ribbons around the school where Rachel went to elementary school Thursday night.

Purple signifies the favorite color of a lot of little girls and white is for innocence, Nelson said.

Purple and white ribbons also trimmed the trees scattered throughout the school’s front lawn and lined the railings that lead to the front door.

Flowers, pictures and stuffed animals blocked the entrance as a memorial for the 9-year-old.

Rachel’s uncle, Jason Wickenhagen, 23, was arrested Thursday night and charged with premeditated first-degree murder. He initially confessed to killing Rachel, then claimed he assaulted her - but didn’t kill her - on the orders of three strangers who entered his home.

Wickenhagen was awaiting sentencing on an indecent liberties conviction for fondling a 16-year-old girl after trying to rape her. Sentencing was delayed twice, a fact that frustrated Nelson.

“Some of the neighbors have talked about it,” Nelson said. “We are going to do something about it. Go to the Legislature - something.

“The three strikes and you’re out is good. But when it comes to molestation, it should be one strike.”

Neighbor Julie Sellers added, “We will fight under her name to see that justice is done, because she can’t fight any more.”

Nelson said several members of the community had stopped by to tie on ribbons. Others honked as they drove by and offered a thumbs-up sign to Nelson.

“You don’t have to know a child to have your heart go out to them,” said Nelson’s mother, Sherri Fields.

Nelson said a conversation she had with her 6-year-old son, Michael, brought the tragedy all too close to home.

“He was terrified and asked, ‘Would one of my uncles do that to me?”’ she said. “They ask, ‘Why? Why? Why?’ As parents, we don’t know the answers to their questions.”

Nelson and sister-in-law Tina Fields also hope to sell purple and white ribbons to raise money to buy a memorial at Ridgeview honoring Rachel.

“We don’t want to dwell on it, but we don’t want to forget,” Tina Fields said. “Because we put our own children in danger when we forget.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo