When her sister said “I know that as my life moves on I’ll remember her less and less, instead of creating more memories and becoming closer” was crushing. Not being able to remember your sibling or child’s voice just 4 short years after they were murdered is cruel and should never be experienced by anyone. I am so sorry to everyone painfully affected by this.
"I can't hear her voice when I think of her anymore.." Probably the hardest thing I could imagine going through when trying to think of your loved one.... RIP
The sister's letter was just too painful but she eloquently did it that the pain seared through my heart. Im so sorry anybody has to go through this. Just awful.
I'm absolutely shattered after hearing Meghan's testimony. Multiple tissues were used during the viewing of her impact statement. This is just soul breaking.
Yes, that poor woman. Her grief was tangible. And she seems to have broken with her religious beliefs unlike her mother who still draws comfort from them. Her testimony left me in tears.
He doesn’t deserve life in prison, they need to send him to the chair. He’s a waste of air and resources. It’s disgusting how long they’ve let him live already
Her sisters statement was so so powerful. It absolutely broke me but it was necessary - it’s necessary for everyone to hear those words. This is why it matters to have this streamed - because we need to hear and feel the lives lost in a real way. We need to grasp that the victims are more than names and pictures.
Yes, that is true. I hope Cruz also sees now what he did and realizes, which his narcissism would have prevented him from foreseeing, the damage he did with his stupid and selfish actions. To sit every day and hear people in utter grief at the losses that he caused must surely affect him. I have to believe that.
@@alwa6954 It won't affect him at all. He's a psychopath He's totally devoid of this point of any empathy, compassion, shame, etc. He wanted the infamy and notoriety that comes with being a dangerous criminal. All of this was premeditated. And he's not crazy. He's simply a sick individual
Heartbreaking 💔 You cannot convince me that an 18 year old’s “right” to own a gun is more important than children being able to live out their full life.
@@mialaciel8176 and if this So Called disturbed Young man wouldn't have had the Opportunity of Purchasing Such a deadly Weapon! these Young Children would be moving along in life doing the things they'd Planned on ? They'd be Making their dreams Come true! But instead? Their gone! Dead! And their brokenhearted family's left behind too deal with the Pain Sadness anger depression anxiety the taste of living a happy life! Soo Please don't Say the weapon had nothing too do with this tragedy! Because it's disgusting & difficult too try & imagine that especially when it's not Your child who Was Viciously Murdered because it's much easier talking about Something You haven't experienced & Your child is alive by Your Side & the Other's are in a Grave!
This broke me. To my core. I love my sister- even though she’s older. She has a daughter now. I can’t even imagine losing them. And the audacity he has to cover his ears, look away, draw on his stupid notepad…..my dad was in prison most of my life. If he never killed anyone and I was denied having a relationship with him- I don’t know why it’s so hard to put a KILLER, who relishes in their victims pain, to death. Disgusting. Stop wasting tax payer money.
I Cried with Them. i just cant come to terms how such a RUTHLESS individual ruined so many lives. These parents will never forget that day nor the day they had to lay their children to rest. its truly unbelievable pain and agony.
I agree. I agree with everyone... the system failed him and this is the outcome, no excuses. I wish the trial was with the people who ignored all the signs.
I'm crying as well, I am in a terribly dark place mentally right now, since thursday night, after seeing Gina's family hearing the details about the autopsy of their daughter, who the killer shot a few times POINT BLANK with the gun literally against her skin WHILE LOOKING AT HER IN THE EYES! If i am being honest, i am suicidal right now, the pain is too much, idk why it affects me so much, but it just does
@@xlReap64 you need to get off the interwebs for awhile bro.. go for a walk, play with a puppy, anything! It’s all about where you choose to focus your attention and emotion. Depression feeds itself like a black hole, you have to consciously choose to not feed yourself more black pills. Mate I know how hard it is and I do hope you feel better soon
That animal just sits there with zero remorse. He made a deadly choice. He literally could have taken his million dollar inheritance, lived a decent life, and kept to himself, but no he chose evil. I don’t feel bad for what he has coming to him.
@@Gamingtv23658 I don't know, but it was a life insurance payout from his mother. He may have had to share it with his brother but still, he could have built a good life with that money. Not every 19 year old is handed that kind of money.
Megan spoke beautifully and eloquently. Her words were very powerful and impactful. She is a very mature woman. God bless her and her family for all of their pain and trauma. This brought me to tears. I can’t even imagine their suffering, knowing their daughter/sibling is gone, yet the man that murdered her is sitting literally feet away from them and is still alive, breathing air, eating, drinking, talking; everything poor Alaina can no longer do on this Earth.
This poor family! The poor mom looks absolutely destroyed! I can’t imagine the excruciating pain they have to endure everyday for the rest of their lives now and all because of one 18 year old kid! It’s beyond comprehension.
I think all the parents that are there look destroyed. They have probably not slept properly, and cried so many tears it's etched on all their faces. I can't imagine the pain they are going through. I would want to kill that scumbag with my own bare hands.
Being an older brother to 3 sisters, I felt the sister's statement all too closely. My youngest sister is 16 years younger and I do my damnest to protect her and my other sisters. I lost people in my life, but never like this. I pray these families find solace someday.
“On February 14 my heart stopped beating”that line alone I started bawling seriously my heart is hurting I don’t even know them. But it’s the pain the pain of losing a child, a sister a brother a friend , I can’t even imagine. I hope they read and do all the testimonies he needs to know what he took from this world before he’s taken from this world. Give him hell 😠😠😠😢🥺🥺
I lost my older brother 7 years ago, his body was found in the river. He was 24. And my Dad in 2008 to suicide. This made me cry out when the sister was speaking on the pain of losing her little sister. I haven't cried over them in some time, but I know how much it hurts to not be able to hear their voices in your own head anymore. And wishing you could just go out and find them somewhere, that maybe, just maybe, they are still out there. That they will come home. It isn't right and never should have happened, they were supposed to live their lives. RIP Levi and Dad
Wow, Megan Petty encapsulated the exact meaning behind the love and bond between sisters. Such a profound speaker. My heart goes out to you and family, I swear it, you will see your sister again.
You can't swear something. No matter how sweet it sounds, you're not God. Let's stay in a human's limited space and just pray and be good towards everyone.
this put me in tears. I’m an older sister with a younger brother like that and i would have been absolutely devastated if something like this ever happened to him. it would destroy my whole entire world. God Bless that family. Please give them strength and let them feel her presence with them throughout each of there lives. Life is so short, i’m heartbroken😭
Meghan reading her statement at the part where she described everything her sister never got to experience broke me and I burst out crying in my office
No parent or sibling should ever have to try to summarize in a simple statement how this loss impacts a family. We didn't get that experience after my adopted son was murdered because they refused to indict the two officers who killed him. And honestly I don't think I could have done what this mother and sister are doing.
@@dee4379 So many of them have waited four years to be able to say these things. It is extremely healing in that sense. They all had a choice whether they did or didn't speak. The ones who did felt they needed to, and that it would be torture to not get these feelings out.
Jesus, how can life be so evil. Just knowing that it was that little weak excuse for a man makes this situation even worse. He is such a coward. He won’t even look up let alone acknowledge anything around him. Even if he does get the death penalty…. Waiting 20 years to die peacefully while having 3 meals a day and living in safety makes this even worse. Not to mention the numerous appeals, the millions in taxpayer money and the years of heartache the appeal process will continue cause revictimizing these poor families. My grandfather always said take the trash out back and that is exactly what should happen in this situation.
This is exactly how I feel. It’s disgusting that they allow him to sit there and breathe air after he murdered all those people. Once you take away somebody else’s right to live, you forfeit your own. They need to hurry this the hell up and blow a hole in his head
This one really gets me!! Alaina Petty was just so baby faced and young looking compared to some of the other kids….I’m sure she was one of the youngest taken my even THE youngest! I cannot imagine the fear that precious little girl felt in her last moments and having to die in such a brutal way! All these children and the few adults that risked their own lives to protect those who were so vulnerable and shouldn’t have been put in this horrific tragedy in the first place! My heart hasn’t been the same since this all happened so I cannot begin to fathom what those closest to the victims have gone through and will continue to go through! May God bring them all some kind of peace!
Beautiful words about a life taken at 14 yrs. old. A child. When your heart is broken this majorly, nothing can fill that terrible void. Comfort each other. Love each other. Reach out and help someone who needs help. It is a long process. May God comfort you now and always✝️🙏❤️.
I feel like the sister's speech was so impactful that it hit Nikolas somewhat. You can see he is actually listening this time and he was sighing and shifting in his chair as she spoke. I don't think I have ever heard a more powerful speech about how the death of a loved one can affect a person. It shows the gravity of the loss in such a way that it breaks the listener's heart. I am pleased to know that with her letter she managed to reach Nikolas and that he now knows at least a tiny part of what he did to others. The sad part is that can never fix the pain he has caused.
That is exactly how I feel. I want to know that he hears this and whatever he imagined he was doing when he shot all those people is shattered and the reality is brought home to him through the presence and words of these grieving people. Alaina's sister, Meghan, gave such a profoundly moving statement that I have to believe it reached even that narcissist's stony heart.
@@alwa6954 Have you seen his police interview where he tried to act scared and insane so he can get a easier sentence? I feel it’s the same situation here, him acting like he’s emotionally affected so the jury can see he is still part human. The constant rubbing of the hair and looking around seemed more like an act than someone who is thinking deeply about their actions. He looked like when I’m at the DMV sitting and waiting for my number to be called, impatient for it to be over. So no i dont think he really cares about the speech but he sure does try to make it seem like it, even trying a little to hard to be a believable emotional response.
I lost my fiancée suddenly July 30th 2019 after 7 years together, the I can’t hear her voice when I think of her hits home so hard I’m so glad we had many videos of us together so I can remember all of those things, I feel the pain they are going through completely, they’ve had a long road to get to this point and I can’t imagine all they’ve been through up to this point
As a newish mum this shook me to the core. I’ve only had my daughter now for 15 months but since the moment I pulled her out of my own body I would rip the world apart just to see her smile. She’s currently sleeping next to me on the couch as I watch and write this…I cannot imagine what these families are going through.
Alaina and I are only 8 days apart in age. It breaks my heart that she didn't get to experience everything I have since then, no one deserves their life to be taken at such a young age and to miss out on so much. my heart goes out to her family, those were beautiful testimonies.
Please be aware when you are at school. I'm class of 2020 but I didn't have to go through school shootings when I was in elementary so I'm grateful for that. But seesm kids your age need to be more aware because of kids that like to walk in schools with AR15s
@@josiahgonzalez942 i think you may have misunderstood me. We are the same age our birthdays are/were 8 days apart both in 2003, so I am in college now as she would have been and was class of 2021. I still felt however that I went through plenty of shooting drills in elementary school though
That was the most beautiful, heartbreaking letter . Im in tears, her words so brought all those feelings, all those thoughts and memories that writers and poets have been digging for for all of history, and she did it, she sent the devastating loss of her little sister to everyone who will ever watch this. I hope that her letter is archived for history so that people all through time will know that when they read about our time they don’t mistake us all for mindless violent mobs, but will remember that there are real people here, and the losses are real, felt. Painful. These sisters exist, under all the politics, under all the juicy, horrifying, humiliating stuff, which will be how this era is remembered, i know that if people could read this letter too, woven into the history, then they’ll know. My heart breaks for her. I pray for her heart. I’m also in awe of her mind. I pray that she knows that she is a writer.
I just don't know how the defence lawyers do it. I probably would have been disbarred the second I walk into that courtroom for saying something like "my client is a monster who doesn't deserve to breathe in the same air as us"
They probably think he should die. But they have to work and make sure he has fair trial so he has no room for appeal or something. He is a monster. I bet the lawyers think the same.
Agreed 1,000,000 % They must be able to literally take off their feelings & judgment and hang them up outside the courthouse door prior to sitting next to this disgusting devil. I would also throw my client right under the 30 wheeler bus!! If that existed 😤🤬
Right? So insane and sad. These schools need metal detectors and one entrance and exit. My only daughter won’t be going to school. I can’t do it. She should be starting this yeah and nope.
What an amazing mom and sister!!!! I am so sorry for what you guys have to go through!!!! You are so strong!!!! No family should ever have to grieve the loss of a child!!!!!
Oh Meghan your speech was so touching. Absolutely perfect and you did your sisters memory proud. I feel like I know her through your words. I can’t even imagine your pain. As soon as I found out my mom was pregnant with my little sister I loved her like a love I never felt before and that has only grown over the years as I am now 40 and she is 31. I wish you got all the time you should have had with your sister and I am just so sorry. That evil person made such a bad decision and had no clue just how much damage he was doing. Hearing all the testimonies is only a tiny portion of how many lives he ruined and it’s sickening. All the anger and sadness and many other emotions you all feel it breaks my heart. Stuff like this shouldn’t happen and no matter his punishment it just can never be enough. It can’t bring any of them back and that is so darn upsetting.
You can see one of Nick's attorney's is crying while listening to the sister testify. Unreal that she can sit beside that monster and defend him. I bet it keeps her up at night.
They aren’t fighting to prove his innocence. They know he is guilty they are just fighting for him to get life in prison not the death penalty. Secondly that’s their job. Everyone is entitled to a lawyer and if you can’t afford one the state provides one.. that’s their job. Plain and simple.
Thousands of American Soldiers have died to protect these rights for all American citizens. It is a vital part of the Justice system. It is an honor to represent these defendants, no matter how vilified they may be. It is the attorney’s duty.
@@ohio I know that. I'm not blaming her. I'm just saying she is clearly moved by the victim's family's speeches. Sometimes I think the lawyers must emotionally shut down in order to defend these monsters but it clearly affects her. I personally wouldn't be able to sit beside him and work "for him". I don't know how she does it.
This special girl Alaina 💗been thinking about her story all day, seems like the type of gal that would make a great friend a character to remember. I pray her sister never forgets her voice no matter how many years go by and let the family find a way to move on from this but also never forget this special girl🙏🏽
To hear she can't remember her sister's voice anymore was absolutely heartbreaking!!!! I can't imagine the pain of these families. This made me think of my twin sister who I'm forever grateful for, and I would never, never be the same person if I ever lost her. These families and the ones that lost their life that day didn't deserve this. Ppl like Nicholas Cruz are a waste of air in my mind. Taking innocent lives for your own enjoyment. I pray he doesn't get the death penalty, and I'm wure some people may ask me why? My answer would be this.... Bcuz even if it's 20 years from now, that's just the easy way out. You need to sit and rot in your jail cell for the rest of your life because these families have to live every single day without their loved ones that YOU so selfishly took away from them. It's only fair you live the rest of your life behind bars, the D.P. is just too easy for you and what you did. My heart goes out to everyone who was lost a loved one that day and their families 🙏💔😢🙏❤️💙❤️💙
AWW!! It sounds like Alaina was so nice and sweet. It’s really sad that her life was taken away. She was also beautiful. It seems like she is a really good friend. It’s really sad. She didn’t deserve to die.
Losing my sister is an unimaginable loss. My heart goes out to all the loved ones of all the victims. No one should have to go through this. Let alone this many people. The pain they must feel each time there’s a new school shooting, reopening their wounds each time. It’s unimaginable
I hope he feels her pain. I hope he stays awake every night remembering every word she said and blaming himself for causing it. I hope when this is over, his own thoughts will be drowned by their testimonies and that he NEVER experiences a single moment of peace. AND I hope that is only a preface to his torment because NO amount of suffering will ever be enough for him.
As a big sister 6 years apart from my lil sister helping my mom raise her and teach her things and grow and our bond is so close I would absolutely loose my mind if I lost her. I would be dead crushed devastated. I can’t imagine the pain this family is going through the last 4 years. They are so strong and a beautiful family. Sending prayers to them .
I feel so bad for all of the families of the victims because they are literally putting their emotions out there not just for the public eye but also in front of the killer of their loved ones and the most heartbreaking part is Nikolas Cruz doesn't care , he enjoys their pain . He has said this himself . RIP to all the victims of the shooting and to the families who are having to learn a new normal without their loved ones .
thank you for sharing the story of Alaina, what an amazing girl. I couldn't hold back my emotions, I cannot comprehend what your family must go through but still go up to that stand and faced the evil monster I know that Alaina would be so proud of you. My heart goes out to all the families that have lost their family members that day and will continue even here across the ocean in Austria to support you and others holding up the beautiful stories of the deceased...
Alana sounded like a sweet girl this makes me so sad, she did not deserve to be fun down, no child or teen does regardless of any background. I hope justice is served this actually really makes me angry honestly this is horrible what this family pain has been for the past few years
Alaina seemed like such a sweetheart. 💔💔💔 Life is so unfair. Today happens to be her birthday. Happy Birthday, Angel. My thoughts are with her family today.
Rest in peace, Alaina Petty... you'll be missed. I also want to say rest in peace to the other victims. They really didn't deserve any of this. Everyone should be able to go to school and feel safe. I will keep all of the families in my thoughts and I will continue sending my strength to these families, they really deserve it.
God bless all the mothers and fathers and families. This daughter/sister is so wise and her statement is SO eloquently written and so full of raw heart. She’s amazing like her sister. May they find peace sooner than later and may they know their sister and daughter is always with them even if they can’t see her!
Wow Meghan, you’re an amazing young lady. Your words were incredibly powerful. I don’t cry easily and I am in tears. God bless you and your family. May He keep you strong until you all meet again.
My love goes out to these brave relatives. The courage and strength they employed to give their statements is clearly immense and in all their pain they should feel proud of that strength. They made their loved one visible, gave them life again briefly, gave them a voice again briefly. I could see, hear and sense each stolen person in their statements. I saw the beauty and humanity of them. My heart goes out to the relatives, it truly does, in the immensity of their loss - a pain incurred for no comprehensible reason.
Never underestimate how catastrophic it is for those of us who’ve lost someone so horrifically, to lose the sound of their voice. It kills me that I can’t hear my Chelsea’s voice anymore. I would give almost anything for a recording of her saying anything. Literally anything.
Same. I cried listening to her read what she wrote. How could I not? I wish I could reach through my phone screen and give Meghan a hug. Nick Cruz only cares about one person and that person is Nick Cruz. He doesn't care at all about the pain and the suffering he caused these grieving families
Alaina petty was in my kindergarten class and she moved to florida subsequently. A fate worse than death is school violence. I live in Redmond, WA which is across the lake from seattle via 520.
How cruel is it to have a weeping mother read a statement of her dead child. She still does it to get justice for her .May all the victims get the justice they deserve
It’s not cruel, she chose to read the statement because she wanted to! These are called victim impact statements, they’re not testifying. These statements are important and allows closure for the families, plus they’ve sealed the nail in the coffin for Cruz.
I’ve watched all of the impact statements to really hear the victims stories. The more I watch the more broken I feel I can’t imagine the pain the anger. God bless ur daughter Elena sending a lot of love 🙌🏾.
Her sister holding back her tears so that she can adequately get her message across. I just wanted to scream “let it out”. You deserve to. It’s been 4 years of hell and you are going to finally get your justice!
*Rest In Love & Peace to the students and the teachers of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School* 🕊💖 Alyssa Alhadeff Martin Duque Nicholas Dworet Jaime Guttenberg Luke Hoyer Cara Loughran Gina Montalto Joaquin Oliver Alaina Petty Meadow Pollack Helena Ramsay Alex Schachter Carmen Schentrup Peter Wang Scott Beigel Christopher Hixon Aaron Feis
My God, my children are the exact same ages apart from each other, and boy girl boy girl. My baby is only 6 months old, and just imagining loosing her in this way is horrific. I wish I could give this mama a hug, my heart aches for her😞
So strong. How they’re not screaming at that jerk at the top of their lungs and turning over tables to get to him is beyond me. They’re better people than me
