Balloon launch held to remember murder victim Dayana Garcia

MILWAUKEE -- Family and friends of Dayana Garcia, a woman who was murdered in broad daylight, held a tribute to her on Thursday, January 3rd -- one year after her death. Dozens of purple balloons were launched into the sky near 13th and Montana on Milwaukee's south side.

On each balloon that was launched, there was a note attached. One side explained the tragedy. The other side featured a picture of the man police say is responsible for the crime.

Garcia was beaten with a two-by-four and stabbed about a dozen times on January 3rd, 2012. The man accused of killing her is her estranged husband, Jose Luis Discua-Bados. He fled from the crime scene and hasn't been seen since.

"It's painful to remember what happened that day," Brenda Garcia, the victim's sister said. "Someone out there who knows him has to come forth and say something."

"It wasn't enough that he hit her -- that he broke the two-by-four in three pieces. He had to come back and just stab her over a dozen times," Claudia Rosete, a cousin of the victim said.

On Thursday, family and friends of the victim honored Garcia's memory and said they are trying to keep the focus on capturing her killer.

"We don't exactly know where he is, but he's still out there. It's not fair that he's out there living the life and yet he took another life away," Rosete said.

"We have to find this guy. There's just absolutely no way that we can let him be on the loose to possibly victimize someone else," Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy Romo West said.

Garcia's family and friends will gather again at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday for a candlelight vigil. On Saturday, a day of action will be held in Garcia's honor. Family members and loved ones will hand out flyers with photos of Discua-Bados hoping someone knows where he is.

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