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Family mourns death of girl, 9, 15 years later

Loved ones of Mary Bea Perez gather to remember her

Fifteen years after her death, the family of 9-year-old Mary Bea Perez gathered to remember her at the location where her body was found.

Mary Bea was kidnapped from Market Square in April 1999 and later murdered.

Her body was was found near an underpass at I-35 and Laredo.

"It's never going to go away. I always have her in my heart and everybody always remembers her. I mean day by day, every day, she's always in my mind," said Mary Bea's mother, Patricia Guerrero.

The family lit candles and released balloons in her memory. Guerrero believes her daughter is watching over the family.

"Every year we come back. It's like there's always a white dove that flies around here at the same time that we are here, and I knows she's here with us," said Guerrero.

Guerrero warns other parents to take precautions when it comes to their children's safety.

"Take care of your kids. Do not let them go, because they can get lost in a second. I don't want this to happen to anyone else," Guerrero said.

Mary Bea's killer, Tommy Lynn Sells, confessed to the murder after he was picked up for another murder. He was sentenced to death, and was executed earlier this month.

"It doesn't take the pain away," Guerrero said.

Family members say they'll continue to gather at the site year after year.


About the Author
Bill Barajas headshot

Reporter, proud Houstonian, U of H alumni, and lover of all the hometown sport teams.

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