KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the sun set on a sunny, balmy, 60-degree-plus Sunday, a huge crowd of family members and friends gathered at Berkley Riverfont Park in Kansas City for a candlelight vigil to remember Diana Ault and Sarah DeLeon.
“From what I know and have heard, she was a very loving and caring person, very hard working and wanted nothing more than to be a mother to her children and that was all taken away from both of us and her,” said Josh Ault about his mother.
Josh, who’s now 24, was four when his mother was killed. His sister, Katie, was just six months old.
Police discovered both crying beside their mother’s body when they found 26-year-old Diana Ault shot to death inside her home in Independence, Mo. on January 31, 1994.
“Somebody did a very bad thing that was unfair not only to my Mom, but us kids as well,” said Josh Ault.
On December 29, 1989 18-year-old Sarah DeLeon was found stabbed to death. Her body dumped along some railroad tracks near Interstate-435 and Wolcott Drive in Kansas City, Kan. DeLeon’s car was discovered the night before under I-70 on 78th Street in Kansas City, Kan.
“She was outgoing. She was friends with everybody. She didn’t have any enemies and she was a lot of fun to be around, “Matt DeLeon said about his older sister. “It’s hard to know that someone’s out there, you know, living a life not deserved and they’re walking free and Sarah’s gone.”
It’s been 24 years since DeLeon’s tragic death and 20 years since loved ones said goodbye to Ault.
On Sunday family and friends lit candles during the vigil and prayed that police will soon catch both victim’s killers.
“We can’t bring them back, but we need something. It’s just a mystery out there, “said Alice Edwards, DeLeon’s best friend.
Police in Independence recently reopened Ault’s cold case which gives the hurting families hope.
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“I think it’s great that they are wanting to look into it,” said Josh Ault.
“The more we continue to talk about each case, hopefully the more likelihood that someone will come forward,” said Matt DeLeon.
Anyone with information about either unsolved murder investigation can call the Independence or Kansas City, Kan. Police Departments. Anonymous tips can also be sent to two special email addresses which have been set up for the victims. For Diana Ault’s case, tips can be sent to tipsfordianaault@aol.com, and for Sarah DeLeon’s case, tips can be sent to tipsforsarahdeleon@aol.com. Of course, you can also call the TIPS HOTLINE at (816) 474-TIPS (8477).
