From a Bend Tragedy, Hope for Others
When Sandra Meyer first went missing in March, she was said to have been last seen heading to meet with her book club. Months later, after Sandra had been discovered murdered, that same book club came together Thursday to dedicate “Sandy’s Room,” a place for victims of domestic violence to come for safety.
On the dresser in that room, a collection of books that once belonged Sandy Meyer.
“Giving is a great way to heal,” said Connie Newport, a member of Sandy’s book club.
In March, John Meyer told police he last saw his wife heading to her book club meeting. In the days that followed, John would commit suicide,and Sandy would be discovered murdered, her body in a utility box underground in the backyard, police calling it a murder-suicide.
“It’s so sudden. It’s so irrational. And you just feel the need to do something,” said Newport.
With memories of Sandy literally in hand, the book club that found themselves so often mentioned in the search for Sandy, was busy decorating a room at a local domestic violence shelter.
“We also look at it, what could we have done? What did we miss? And we’ll think about that for a long time,” said Gail Knotek, another member of her book club.
Making the beds, hanging curtains and placing the books that bound the women together is a form of therapy.
The room will keep Sandy’s memory alive, her book club imagining the women that will step into Sandy’s room, in the middle of their own crisiss.
“That they see some brightness, some happiness. So we’re hoping it’ll put some smiles on some faces,” said Knotek.
Sandy’s room is inside the Saving Grace emergency shelter. We haven’t shown you the location of this shelter because it’s important the women that need it can feel safe that the location is confidential.
Last year, the shelter helped 229 women and children from our local community.
Inside the room, a piece of Sandy’s life that connected her to her friends.
“I think the books — you know, the books is the common thread for all of us in this,” said Newport. “And you know, you look at those books and realize we all read them together. And now they’re in a great place, and I think that makes us all really happy.” said Newport.
