Friends gather in Mahomet to remember stabbing victim
MAHOMET – Hundreds of community members and friends gathered in Mahomet Wednesday evening to share stories and celebrate the life of Holly Cassano, the 22-year-old mother who was killed in her home earlier this week.
Surrounded by trees bedecked with ribbons, friends holding candles shared laughs and tears as they consoled one another over the loss of Cassano.
Vernie Gill, a friend of the family for many years, said he will miss having the young girl in his life.
"She was very cherished and she loved everybody. She had no problems with nobody," he said. "She was just one sweet, pleasant girl, that's all I could say about her."
The vigil itself, held at a park off Randolph Street in the Candlewood Estates mobile home park just across from Cassano's home, was organized by her friends.
The service consisted of friends taking time to share memories, plus a short message from Derrick Baker, pastor at Church of the Cross in Mahomet.
Baker also read a statement on behalf of Cassano's family, which thanked the community for their support and requested that any information that might aid the ongoing investigation into their daughter's death be reported immediately. Following the service, friends laid flowers and cards at the steps of Cassano's home.
Baker said the response by the community bodes well for everyone affected so deeply by the death of a friend, neighbor and family member.
"I think it's a good sign, it's a good show of support," he said. "The family is going to need a lot of support, and I think that we see that they're going to be getting support."
Organizing the service were two friends of Cassano, Correy Wygant and Andrew Rexroad, who began getting the word out about the vigil on Tuesday morning using text messages, the Internet and word of mouth.
Wygant said that as soon as he learned of Cassano's death, he felt there should be a service to remember her and celebrate her life, adding that the large number of people who came out Wednesday night was a testament to the kind of person she was.
"Out here I feel like we're a pretty tight-knit community. We've never really had anything like this happen before; this is a tragedy and it just shows how well we can pull together as a community," he said.
In his statement to the crowd, Wygant said that while nothing can bring her back, she would not be forgotten and the best thing to do now is support her family and her 18-month-old daughter.
"What we need to do as a family is rally around this family and (her daughter). We need to support the family any way possible."
Rexroad added that he believes the community will continue to respond in a positive way in the wake of tragedy because of the caring nature of community members.
"In this community, people show each other love and no matter what happens or whoever it is, everyone's going to come out and show up and show their love to that person," he said.
A friend and former co-worker said Cassano was a devoted mother who worked multiple jobs – the Meijer store in Champaign and, until recently, the Bob Evans Restaurant in Champaign.
"She had two jobs and she was supporting the baby and she was doing it by herself. She loved that baby," said Nikki Burns of Ludlow, who had worked with Cassano at the Michael's store in Champaign.
"She'd be happy to see that a lot of people came to honor her this way. I'm sure it makes the family happy to know that she was loved this much."
Cassano was found dead on Monday morning, the victim of what an autopsy in Bloomington on Tuesday described as multiple stab wounds. The Champaign County sheriff's office is investigating, though no arrests have been made.
A fund has been started at Busey Bank in Mahomet for Cassano's family and her daughter, Alexis, who was not home at the time of Cassano's death. The bank's phone number is 586-4981. Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation should call Crimestoppers at 373-TIPS or send a tip anonymously through Crimestoppers' Web site, www.373tips.com, or via text message by sending Tip397 plus the tip to CRIMES (274637).
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