Mother of Aniah Blanchard talks push for justice in Natalee Holloway case
For other parents who have lost children to violent acts, they can relate to what the family of Natalee Holloway has dealt with for nearly two decades.
Angela Harris says she and Beth Holloway became friends a few years back after Harris' daughter, Aniah, was kidnapped and later killed. Harris says she's ready to be there for Holloway, just like Holloway was for her.
"When Aniah went missing, you know, Beth was one of the first people to reach out and to actually come to Auburn and be with me," Harris recalls. "And through the whole 32 days Aniah was missing, she was one of the biggest supporters I had."
Harris says Holloway was with her at vigils and other public gatherings, offering a calming voice when it was needed more than ever.
"That I could get through it and I could do it," Harris adds.
Harris says she's glad to see her friend, Beth Holloway, finally beginning the process of seeking justice in her daughter's disappearance almost two decades later.
"For me, how I feel about it: it's just anything for him to be made uncomfortable," Harris says. "Out of his daily routine or whatever is going on with him in Peru in prison. It's just something that makes him have to acknowledge Natalee and what has happened."
Harris says while justice certainly helps with closure, it doesn't wipe away the pain of what happened.
"You know, just like we're still awaiting trial for the person who's been charged with three capital murder charges for killing my daughter," Harris explains. "I'm not waiting on that day. That's not going to be the day I say everything is OK cause it's never going to be OK. I want my daughter back, just like I know Beth wants Natalee back."
On this Mother's Day weekend, Beth Holloway and Angela Harris are no doubt missing their daughters more than ever.
"And so for me, it's like I just go so fast and I try not to stop and think," Harris points out. "Just like last Sunday was National Bereaved Mother's Day, and it was very hard. And so, coming up this Sunday being Mother's Day, it's going to be even harder. It always is. I lost my first son in a car accident 27 years ago, so Mother's Day has always been hard. Now, it's extremely hard."
Harris says there many emotions on a weekend like Mother's Day weekend. She says she's, of course, happy to be a mom and glad to have other children, but certainly aching for those children who can't be with her.