Justin M. Bloxom, 12
Justin's death sparks others into action
“I never want him to be forgotten.”
It’s a statement no parent should ever have to utter about their child, but Amy Bloxom Fletcher was put into that position on March 30 when her 12-year-old son, Justin M. Bloxom, was killed, allegedly at the hands of a twice-convicted sex offender.
The grief, even after eight months, is still fresh as tears brim in Fletcher’s eyes easily. But a quick smile returns as she moves into the plans she and a growing army of friends and strangers are putting together so that Justin won’t be forgotten.
More importantly, their ideas, many of which are still being finalized, are designed to use Justin’s death as a teaching moment for children and also to bring local and national attention to strengthening laws against child sexual predators.
They have formed the non-profit Justin M. Bloxom Alliance for Innocence, which emerged from a Facebook page “Justice for Justin” that has over 17,000 fans. Alliance members Fletcher, Patsy Ogletree, Rhonda Nix, Leslie Peck, V.J. Jackson, Amber Patton, Stacy Arrington and Jennifer Brocato already have been successful in garnering more than 4,390 names on a petition that will be submitted at the next legislative session to show their support for stronger sex offender laws.
For the time being, though, the focus is on the creation of a memorial garden at North DeSoto Middle School, which Justin attended as a seventh-grader. The push is on to have the special space completed by the one-year anniversary of Justin’s death.
Authorities say Justin was lured away from a friend’s home by a registered sex offender, Brian David Horn, 35, who was posing via text messages as a young girl. Horn, who got Justin’s number from a friend of his stepdaughter’s, picked up Justin in his taxi cab.
Justin’s body was found a few hours after he was reported missing. He died of asphyxiation. Horn is charged with first-degree murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.
“We want to honor Justin. We want to continue to give Justin a voice so that he’ll never be forgotten,” Fletcher said of the memorial garden. “It will be a healing place for me to go and for the students to go. … Keeping myself busy doing this helps with the healing because it’s positive moves for Justin.”
The idea originated somewhat from an impromptu memorial that sprang up at the Stonewall town park immediately after Justin’s death. Simultaneously, another memorial began growing at the site on U.S. Highway 171 where Justin’s body was discovered. The fence row quickly became adorned with flowers and crosses.
Items from the park were moved to the fence. And the area continues to draw attention from passers-by and Justin’s family and friends.
Fletcher and Ogletree planted 13 lilies there in May to commemorate Justin’s 13th birthday. The landowner is supportive.
“The bulbs will be blooming for his next birthday in May,” Ogletree said.
Unknown to all is the mystery person who keeps up the site by mowing it and keeping the memorial items in place.
Planting a flower garden will be one of the aspects of the memorial garden at North DeSoto Middle School. Overall, the space on the north side of the complex will feature benches, a low-surrounding wall, angel monument, engraved bricks and a variety of low-maintenance plants.
It won’t be something just to look at. The concept supported by school officials calls for it to double as a learning station, where students will gather for outdoor lessons, whether it’s to get pointers from experts on the Internet and cell phone safety or to learn about plant growth and participate in garden maintenance.
The DeSoto School Board has given its approval of the project, and plans are coordinated with North DeSoto Middle School Principal Keith Simmons and other school officials, who fully support it.
“We want to celebrate life here. We were left for a reason and we want to continue to talk about that,” said school counselor Angela Riser, who added that the emotions surrounding Justin’s death still affect students.
Fletcher hopes a groundbreaking ceremony can be set before the Christmas break. Tina Pickett, owner of Gardens of Louisiana LLC, along with her foreman Juan Mondragon and landscape architect Scott Crane, are preparing the design documents.
Construction will be paid for through donations; no school funds will be used. Fletcher and Ogletree already have pledges, and they anticipate many more will contribute to reach the estimated $25,000 price tag.
“The garden is a priority. But once it’s finished we will be working on our other goals,” said Ogletree.
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