News 12 at 11 o'clock, September 2, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Patsy Skinner sends up a prayer now that authorities have identified a suspect in the murder of Shalamar Byrd. Investigators say Franklin Wright is the person responsible for her murder and also for the death of Yana Schenker. Officers say he is also the person who viciously beat store owner Jennie Hope.

"No one deserves to have been treated that way and especially the elderly woman, I mean she probably just showed kindness," said Patsy Skinner.

Skinner's kind acts is what brought Shalamar Byrd to her doorstep.
She runs a ministry that provides food and clothing to those in need.
She says Shalamar was a proud person who came around after the crowds left. Businesses have been calling and wanting to give her donations to help pay for Shalamar's funeral.

"I just wanted to do something, I mean you don't leave this earth without somebody paying their respects to you, regardless of what your sins were,"added Skinner. "We look past people's sins and their thoughts and look at their hearts."

Skinner says Shalamar simply got caught up in life but had a heart of gold. Now that a suspect has been named she's hoping Shalamar's family is one step closer to the justice they deserve.

"It's not justice until he's been caught, and it's not justice until that judge tells him what his sentence is," said Skinner. Shalamar wasn't given any warning before she was sentenced.

Skinner says Shalamar Byrd's family is planning memorial services for her as soon as the Aiken County Coroner's Office releases her remains. The Coroner's Office is expected to complete their portion of the investigation in the next couple of days.