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Special blankets comfort murder victims’ classmatesSIOUX CITY (AP) — Volunteers throughout the nation crafted then donated 455 blankets for the classmates and teachers of five slain Sioux City children.The quilts and blankets were made by Project Linus members from a variety of states, including Iowa. The organization takes its name from the Peanuts cartoon character who always has his own signature security blanket in tow.The blankets were made to help comfort the classmates of five children who were found beaten to death, along with their mother, Leticia Aguilar, in their home Aug. 31.Aguilar’s boyfriend, Adam Moss, 24, has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder for their killings and the slaying of Sioux City businessman Ronald Fish, whose body was found in his home the same day.Three of the children attend-* *After the start of the year we've had, this is so wonderful. * *Micaela HansenMichael Aguilar, 6. Claudia Saldana, 12, and Zacarias Saldana, 11, attended sixth grade at Riverside Annex.The colorful blankets were quilted, crocheted or knitted and laid out on the cafeteria tables for students to select.Students grinned and hugged their selection as they stood in line to have it put in a bag to hike home. Exclamations of “Awesome!” and “Cool!” were heard occasionally amid the chatter.“I haven’t seen these kids so excited since the first day of school,” said Micaela Hansen, Everett principal. “After the start of the year we’ve had, thistor of the state’s only Project Linus chapter, organized the effort, using the Internet and personal contacts. “We’re just trying to help out the best we can,” Wolf said Tuesday. “Everybody needs comfort.”Larry and Michael’s classes from last year were first to pick out blankets. Zeke Halstead, 9, and Oscar Luna, 8, were special friends of Larry.“I knew all the family, but I played with Larry,” Zeke said. “We used to go snake catching.”The children's deaths were hard on their teachers as well. Wendy Johnson taught Michael in her kindergarten class last year, then had him and Lisa in summer school.“He was such a lover, not a big talker,” she remembered tearily. “I picked (a blanket) out for Michael. It has moons with teddy bears sitting on them, and it’s real cuddly. Ther\rl4-4- T 01
Newspaper Details
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Thu, Sep 20, 2001
Page 24
Full Page
Clipped by
Dlniemanssc D.
15 Oct 2024
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