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Benefit keeps murder victim's spirit alive
Aug. 6,
2012 |
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Amanda Lynn Plasse (center) was found murdered in her Chicopee apartment on Aug. 26, 2011. The Justice for Amanda Benefit will mark the one-year anniversary of her death and the search to find her killer.
Reminder Publications submitted photo
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By Katelyn Gendron
katelyn@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Justice has been elusive in the 12-month case to find Amanda Lynn Plasse's killer. The 20 year-old was found stabbed to death in her School Street apartment on Aug. 26, 2011.
Her loved ones refuse to relinquish hope that authorities will find her killer and pray that the Justice for Amanda benefit on Aug. 26 will draw attention to her case, drawing out anyone with knowledge of her murder.
"I've sent several letters, emails and Facebook messages to AMW ["America's Most Wanted"] hoping to get Amanda's story out further than our local area. Being so close to the highway, it's possible that whoever did this could have hopped onto I-391 and left. Someone knows something and is not talking," Michelle Mathieson, Plasse's mother, told Reminder Publications.
"The case is open and actively being investigated. I am confident that it will be solved," she added.
Mathieson said she never knew how many lives her daughter positively influenced during her short years and hoped that this benefit will stand as a testament to Plasse's spirit of community giving. Proceeds will be donated to Wisniowski Park as well as to purchase art supplies — a passion of hers, in addition to the outdoors, music and poetry — for Chicopee's elementary schools.
"To know Amanda was to love her. She had a spirit like no other. She was the type of girl that would stop and give a bum $10 and tell him to get something to eat and not alcohol. I've heard stories of her giving someone her jacket right off her back," her mother said.
Plasse's generosity was mirrored by those within and outside of the Chicopee community who've come together to help with the benefit.
"We've come to learn that Amanda touched the lives of many people young and old. When we first put it out there [on] Facebook [www.facebook.com/events/255872961188044/] that we were planning an event, calls and messages starting pouring in! We secured several bands and have actually had to turn some away," Mathieson explained.
More than 25 bands will perform at the benefit, which will also include food and raffles from noon on Aug. 26 from noon to 1 a.m. at Maximum Capacity on School Street. Performers include Scott on Top, Triple XXX, Lobsterz from Mars, The Raft and others. The cost is $20 per adult and $10 for children age 12 and younger.
The festivities will also include a poker tournament at Brass Tap on Cabot Street, which requires a $30 buy in. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. For more information about the tournament, email sinbadvett@charter.net. Tickets for the Justice for Amanda Benefit can be purchased at Maximum Capacity or Brass Tap.
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