How It Started

Our grief journey started January 28, 2014. Our son’s ending was violent and tragic. I will be the least amount descriptive as possible.

Our son, Justin Michael Back was 18 years old and getting ready to start his own journey with the US Navy. I came home from work to a dark house. Which never happened because Jake and Justin left things on all the time-Yes, we were a regular family.

Soon we found that we had been robbed and Justin was missing. While Mark made the 911 call, I was using Justin’s phone to call some of his friends, hoping he was with them. Then they started calling one another. Then they started a search for him while the Sheriff’s Department was piecing evidence together. Two 19 year olds were arrested. One was someone that Justin tried to mentor and show him a better way of life. No contact in six years.

He and another came to rob us but found Justin home. Justin was talking to them about the military, still trying to give them a positive path. Instead, they left the day before and planned different scenarios to kill Justin and make it look like he ran away.

Moving forward, the Sheriff comes the next day to deliver the news in person. I’m still holding on to the hope Justin was found and was going to be okay. Instead, our precious son’s name and the word deceased were in the same sentence. No. No. Not Justin. He’s full of life, laughter and kindness! Everyone seriously loved this kid!! But yes. It did happen.

We made it through planning his service, a recently graduated Navy recruit gave Justin his boot camp uniform, which made this mama so happy. Justin was so excited to become a Sailor. Nervous but excited was his words just a couple of days before. So this was what I meant by happy.

By the grace of God we made it through weeks of court hearings, having to be in the same room with the ones that took my son’s life. Hearing things that were done to Justin. How does this happen? Having to testify, identifying Justin’s belongings he worked for himself, his favorite comforter they wrapped him in and left his body in a wooded area.

The lives and hearts that Justin touched while he was here will never be the same. I know posts like these are not fun and happy but they are real. It’s the beginning of our grief journey. Some of you share journeys like ours and for that, I am so very sorry. Some of you may have friends or family members with something similar.

The journey may be a different but grief is the same. Not everyone has a strong support group or just feel like they can’t talk to anyone about their journey. I am not a professional but I have learned things in my six year journey that has helped me along the way. I have come to where I am finding joy and blessings.

Let’s be a positive support and Be A Hero to someone today by sharing some compassion.