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We don’t know why Andrea Susan Forbes left her home and family in Johnson City, Tennessee, to move to Florence in 2015. We may assume it was for a reason that can easily turn sour. The 33 year-old’s Facebook friends were mainly from her home in Tennessee. A neighbor at the Sherrod Apartments in North Florence is said to have stated she and Miss Forbes had both lived there over two years and didn’t know each other’s names.
No matter the circumstances of Andrea Forbes’ life, she didn’t deserve to be murdered. She, in death, does deserve to be treated with some respect. There’s little respect on a gurney being taken from a murder scene; there’s little respect on an autopsy table; there’s little respect when the intimate details of one’s life are plastered over local news, not to mention social media.
Judging from past cases in Lauderdale County, even if Miss Forbes’ murderer is found, he will receive a slap on the wrist. Murder victims in certain circumstances never receive justice. Prosecutors invariably say “at least we got something.”
Did you see the photo the Shoals Insider posted of Miss Forbes? She looked like an all-American girl. The one Pen-N-Sword posted? She looked glamorous. The one Florence police provided media? She looked like a homeless person coming off a week long binge. We have to ask why? The photo with the half-shaved head wasn’t even her Facebook profile picture. Someone had to dig to find that dubious photo. Again, we have to ask why?
No, Miss Forbes wasn’t a Florence fixture; nor was she a pillar of society. She was a human being, and her killer deserves to be punished.
Thank you. She was my cousin and I was put off by the pic they dug up (it was at least 3 or 4 years old I believe). I had not seen her since she was a teenager as we lived far apart, but we kept up on fb. People move and live their lives and have troubles and sorrows we know nothing about. I can tell you she was a happy, bubbly, loved child and her family is devastated. I'm glad I did not see the social media garbage. That serves no purpose. Someone's child, someone's mother, someone's little sister is gone and respect and empathy are all that should be given.
ReplyDeleteWe are so very sorry for your and your family's loss. Let's hope Florence police make a quick arrest and that justice is served in the court system. If we can help you in any way, please contact us via our e-mail, shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.
DeleteThank you. Hopefully folks in the Shoals will keep pressure on the authorities to keep her case active. I will pass this on to her Tennessee family.
DeleteI knew Andrea Forbes very well. We had been friends since the 4th grade and she does deserve better, she was fun,everyone that got to know her loved her because she was a wonderful loving person. Her family here in Tennessee are grieving her death with no closure maybe never to have closure and they deserve better also. I think everyone in this situation deserves better,if only it would happen. Thank you for writing something so beautiful she was a beautiful person no matter what picture they use on the news.
ReplyDeleteI have known Andrea for 20 years. We met in the youth group at our church. As we all have, she made some mistakes and very poor choices in men, but her biggest flaw, she was too loving, too forgiving, too accepting, and too trusting! I still can't believe she is gone, stolen from us, and made to look like 'white trash'by the media!!! She was beautiful, kind, loving, and so genuine! Justice MUST be served!!! She deserved soooo much more out of life than the crap life she was dealt and ultimately succumbed her! I love you Andrea!! We will be friends forever and always! Rest in peace beautiful angel!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this happens all too often when a victim has no family living in the area, no family to place pressure on police and then on the district attorney's office. Sometimes it happens due to the mindset of a judge. We're hoping for the best in finding Andrea's killer.
DeleteI grew up with Andrea in church. What most people don't know is that her mother abandoned her and she never knew her father. She had deep deep pain and despite it all...she had the biggest heart. I was so angry when I saw the picture they posted of her, because that wasn't the true representation of her. She was always changing her hair but that pic misrepresented her. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for drawing attention to what the media did to a very beautiful soul who was taken so young.
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