Rachel Newhouse has been found...
Please do not continue to send Rachel's Letter to your friends and loved ones.
Sadly, she was not found safely and reunited with her loving family, it was only her earthly body that was recovered and identified.
Her spirit now soars with the Angels and for that I am grateful.
She will know no more earthly pain and for that I am grateful.
I take comfort in knowing that God was by her side to the end, and for that I am grateful.
Her family will never again be the same, for they will miss the laughter in her eyes each moment for the rest of their lives. I pray that God will be with them each day, each moment, each second, and comfort them. I know that He will, and for that I am grateful.
I had held on to the prayer that a miracle would occur... that Rachel would be found safely and reunited with her loved ones. If that were not to be, I prayed that her disappearance would not remain a mystery forever... that if the worst news were to come, at least the news would come. Let us know what happened, God. I prayed that her parents and family would not see Rachel in every passing reflection and in every head turned away, wondering if a fleeting image might have been that of their daughter, their sister, their grand daughter, their niece, their cousin, their friend, their Rachel.
Now that the lesser of my prayers has been answered, I am extremely saddened but I am grateful. I am torn and I am angered. I am filled with rage that this should have happened at all, but still I am grateful. Her family can find some closure, some peace. The good people of San Luis Obispo can rest a little easier. The person responsible will hopefully never have a chance to hurt anyone else.
For that I am grateful.
I am also grateful for the thousands upon thousands of kind souls who helped to spread the news about Rachel's disappearance. Some of you printed and distributed missing posters, some donated time and money to her search effort. Many sent Rachel's Letter (our e-mail campaign) around the world and back, passed on from friend to friend.
If you are visiting this page because you received Rachel's letter, please do not pass it on any further. Rachel's Letter must rest now, too.
Some of you dug into your own pockets and pledged your funds to increase the reward for Rachel's return. Words cannot express the kindness behind your giving. Thank you.
The police and investigators in San Luis Obispo never gave up and never rested. They're still not resting as they work to solidify the case against the person responsible for Rachel's death. It was not just a job to them... it became a personal mission. Thank God they didn't file the case away as too difficult or too old. They cared on a personal level. There are not enough words with which to say thank you, but thank you, anyway. Thank you from the heart.
For all of you friends and strangers, for all of your efforts, for all of your kindnesses and for all of your caring... I am extremely grateful.
Thank God for you, and for people like you.
There are so many good people in the world and I was reminded of that each day as I checked my e-mail. So many of you sent words of kindness and comfort to Rachel's family. On their behalf, I thank you.
There are dark spots in each of our lives, but the world is filled with good people. We must all remember that and not dwell on the sadness. Rachel is not sad now. I believe that with all my heart. She is filled with light and glory, and we will see her again some day. She is in a better place.
For those of you that put so much of your time and effort into finding Rachel, please continue with your efforts, but continue on behalf of the other missing children and adults in the world. Give your help where your help is needed.
Please help Kristin Smart's family, or Kristen Modaferri's. Help find Suzanne Lyall, or Gayle Marks. Hold on to the prayer that their children are alive and that they will be reunited soon. Help to make it real, if you can.
Support the families of Cyndi Vanderheiden and Chevy Wheeler as they wade through the painful legal processes that lie ahead. Cyndi and Chevy, like Rachel, are with us now only in spirit. What can we do to help?
Comfort the family of Aundria Crawford, whose remains were found with Rachel's. I pray that God will show her family how to deal with the days ahead... how to continue living and, one day, how to laugh and find joy in their hearts again. I know it will be hard, but I know that God can, and will, make it happen. For that I am grateful.
We are good people, and we must continue to be good people. We must help each other in troubled times. We have always had Angels to help us through our darkest moments, and now there are some new Angels in Heaven.
Please, God, keep them by Your side.
Ron Hall,
webmaster@hallontheweb.com
(previously webmaster@gracenote.com)
For those wishing details and updates on the case involving the disappearance of Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford, please visit the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. They have articles detailing the case from the very beginning, up to and including the latest breaking news.
