Christine Ham Was Stabbed, Set On Fire, Thrown Into The River
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Christine Ham Was Stabbed, Set On Fire, Thrown Into The River
Apr 26, 2005 2:00 pm US/Eastern
PHILADELPHIA (KYW) Police have charged four individuals with the weekend
murder of a 15-year-old Brookhaven girl.
CBS 3's Natasha Brown has been told Christine Ham was lured to an area
behind Bartram Village housing development on 54th Street and Linbergh
Boulevard in Southwest Philadelphia Saturday afternoon reportedly by a group
seeking revenge for an earlier fight. However, from what police know, the
Chester High School sophomore had nothing to do with the original
altercation.
Investigators say Ham was stabbed repeatedly until the knife broke. Still
alive, police say she was stabbed again before being thrown into a trash can
and set on fire. She was then thrown into the nearby Schuylkill River. The
suspects then allegedly pulled her from the river and onto dry land where
she ultimately died.
"Her excruciating ordeal and pain lasted at least an hour, perhaps more,"
stated Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham at a Tuesday press
conference.
The suspects have been identified as 19-year-old Felicia Dawson, 19-year-old
Demarcus Hamms, 17-year-old John Garrett, and 20-year-old Derrell Savage and
police say they knew the victim.
Joan Ignudo last saw her daughter as she prepared for a charity walkathon
Saturday. "She was my sunshine and God took her from me and I just hope they
do find out who did this. I have to live with this the rest of my life," she
said, adding, "I always thought she would bury me before I buried her."
"That was best friend since I was a little kid and I don't think you can
ever really fully accept that she is gone," stated Cecilia Lashley.
http://kyw.com/Local%20News/local_story_115190217.html