Sister of Keri King Pleads for Justice, Describes Her Kindness in Life

Writer’s Note: The sister of Keri King wants law enforcement to find the man authorities charged with killing her sister while driving drunk in Bedford County in October.  

King’s sister, Cheri Blackwell, wrote and submitted a letter to The Tennessee Star Thursday pleading for justice. Blackwell’s letter also described what her sister Keri was like in life.

As Tennessee Star reported, Edgar Torres-Rangel, an alleged illegal immigrant, was intoxicated in late October when he hit and killed King, 29, as she was on her way home.

Torres-Rangel sustained his own injuries in the crash. Authorities transported him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He later escaped the facility without anyone noticing. Officers with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently placed Torres-Rangel on their 10 Most Wanted List.

Blackwell’s letter is below.

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My sister, Keri Lanaye King was born December 1, 1988.

I was a junior in high school when my parents announced they were expecting a sweet baby girl. My world would be changed forever. Keri helped mold me into the person I am today.

My lifelong connection with this beautiful girl began the day she was born. I had such a love for her that it was indescribable.

Our lives took a terrible turn soon after Keri’s birth, our father was in a terrifying car wreck.

It was during that time I had to assume the role as mother to Keri while my mother took care of my father.

Keri was my baby sister. Words cannot express how much love she gave to me, our family everyone who knew her.

She was always in my heart and in my mind.

As time went by, she continued to be a major part of my life, especially as I worked my way through college with hopes of one day being a teacher.

She was my top cheerleader when I graduated from college.

She encouraged me when I began my teaching career. She was always there for me as she was growing into this beautiful loving caring sister.

Once again tragedy struck our lives.

Keri was only 12 years old when our mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The doctors told us she would only have a few months to live.

I can’t tell you how strong and brave Keri was during this terrifying time. She was so young and so strong for all of us.

Together, we buried our beautiful mother.

Just as we were recovering and beginning to find peace, our lives changed yet again.

The same doctors who told us about our mother now informed us our father was now diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Once again, Keri was the brave and strong one. Keri not only had to watch her mother suffer and die a horrible death, but also had to stand by and see her father die the exact same way.  I think back and think how someone so young could go through something so horrible and come out to be so amazing.  That is just what she was AMAZING!!!

Once again, we had to watch one of our parents lie dying. This time only 3 months following our mother’s death.

I think I was more afraid than anyone. I knew I had to become the person Keri needed.  In the end, Keri was the one that became the person I needed.

But as always, Keri was the strong one even at the age of 12 years old.

Keri was such a hard worker. She worked two jobs.  She would go to work at the doctor’s office till 5:00, and then she would head to the beauty shop and work till 8 or 9’oclock every night and weekends.  She loved God, she loved her friends, she loved her family, and she loved her jobs and the people she worked with that was also like her family (especially she loved her clients and patients). She was so funny and caring. She overcame such a devastating childhood to become this amazing young woman.

Keri decided she wanted to become a hair stylist. Her sense of humor, her kindness, her inner beauty always made people feel good about themselves. This was the perfect job for her.

She really loved people, she loved to laugh and everyone loved Keri.

She treated her clients like they were her family.

Keri loved to share her life with them and they shared everything with her.

Everywhere she worked everyone loved her.

Keri had so much energy that she decided one full time job was not enough so she found a second full time job!!

Keri truly loved all those that she worked with, and they loved her. Keri always had the brightest smile in the room.

She knew how to bring comfort and joy to everyone. She had a laugh that was like none other.

Keri had so much life and enthusiasm.

She dreamed of having a family of her own. She longed for a baby. She truly dreamed of being a mother someday.

October 21, 2018 was a beautiful fall night in Middle Tennessee.

Keri was on her way home, she was only 10 minutes away from her home.

Keri would never have the opportunity to see home or her family or her friends again.

Keri will never have the chance to have her baby. She will never have the chance to be a mother to a beautiful child.

A drunk driver on the wrong side of the road drove into her car in a headlong collision. Keri never had a chance.

We were all so looking forward to her 30th birthday. We were all planning on taking a trip to celebrate.

Instead our family gathered at a sad familiar place once again.

I cannot help but feel all of this could have been avoided.

It is a nightmare that I will have to live with for the rest of my life.

No matter what happens…, no matter what the future holds for any of us or for all of us, our family simply deserves justice to be served.

The man who did this should have to answer for what he did.

To each of you in law enforcement, please find this person.

My sister has no voice. We are her voice. She had no chance. She never saw him coming.

We have that chance to be her voice. We will NEVER stop fighting for Keri.

Keri, we love you, we miss you and one day soon we will see you again.

 

 

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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photos are Courtesy of Cheri Blackwell.