Friday night, family members of the Charlottesville woman found shot to death last Saturday morning on Prospect Avenue, are speaking out.
The rain Friday did not stop a large crowd of family and friends from gathering for a candle light vigil to remember Pherbia Tinsley. With candles in hand the mourners gathered inside Forest Hills Park.
"I know it's true but I just don't believe it," said Barbara Paige, Tinsley's mother.
Her daughter was found dead, slumped over a steering wheel shortly before 7:00 last Saturday morning on Prospect Avenue. The death's been ruled a homicide. Tinsley died from a gunshot wound to the neck.
Paige said, "I thought my granddaughter was joking with me, and then when I heard her cry, then that's when I knew it must be true, and I just couldn't do nothing. I just stood there. I just couldn't believe it."
The killer's still at large. Police say they have some leads, but still haven't made an arrest.
Tinsley's daughter, Telambria, says her mother had been recently going through some personal problems. She had been in and out of clinics following an injury sustained while in the Army.
Telambria said, "She was really stressed out and she was having a bad couple of months…she was just having some problems and needed to get out of the house."
The family says they're encouraged by Friday night's huge turnout.
"Because of Fay, the way she was, that's why they're here, because she was a loving, caring person, to everybody," said Paige.
A caring person who ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Telambria said, "I just keep telling myself she's not suffering anymore. She doesn't have to deal with anything, but at the same time I want her back."
Police are asking people with any information to call Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000. Meanwhile, Tinsley's funeral is happening Saturday morning at 11:00 at First Baptist Church on Main Street.
