Conant senior's death sets focus on domestic violence
Smiles were a rare currency Tuesday through the halls of Conant High School, the same halls where 18-year-old Laura Engelhardt once roamed.
"For me, it's a lot of staring off into space, I just can't really concentrate in classes," friend Jenny Earl said.
Friends decorated Engelhardt's locker, No. C1388, with flowers and notes. A marker hanging from the door allowed classmates to write messages of sympathy, to leave a final note for Laura. Engelhardt's friend, Katie McCoy, said she plans to give the notes to Laura's brother, Jeff, later this week.
"It's not just the students, it's the faculty as well," Conant Assistant Principal Jerry Trevino said. "I think people are still reflecting on the tragedies and coming to grips with everything that has transpired recently."
Posters hung on hallway walls encouraging students to remember Laura by wearing purple, which symbolizes raising awareness about domestic abuse. D'Andre D. Howard, the 20-year-old Hoffman Estates man accused of murdering Laura, her father Alan and grandmother Marlene Gacek, was dating Laura's sister Amanda. Police have not made any allegations about a violent relationship between Howard and Amanda Engelhardt. However, an ex-girlfriend of Howard's had filed for an order of protection in 2006 in Lake County, alleging he threatened to kill her.
"This has really inspired me to make the difference in the world and help everyone know how awesome Laura was," McCoy said.
Laura's friends, like Earl, believe noticing signs of abusive relationships are key, and that increased awareness may have saved Laura's life. Some of Engelhardt's classmates were recently asked if they would stay in a relationship with a guy who hit them.
"A lot of girls were like, 'Yeah, if he was having a bad day,'" Earl said. "That's why everyone needs to talk about this... There's never a good reason."
Prosecutors over the weekend said Laura Engelhardt put herself in harm's way, trying to save her family, before she was killed. She managed to wrestle the knife away from Howard and wounded him in the right arm, authorities said. Earl called Laura "the toughest person ever."
"She's my hero," McCoy said succinctly.
Friends say increasing awareness about domestic violence is more important than thinking about how the courts will rule on Howard's fate.
Classmate Jenna Verity spoke about Engelhardt's dominant presence in the classroom, and the void she left.
McCoy, one of 32 students who graduated eighth grade with Laura in 2005 from St. Peter Lutheran School in Schaumburg, said she's been living on adrenaline since she lost one of her best friends on Friday. Her friends have rallied, coming up with ideas on how best to memorialize her friend.
A table sits at Conant with photos, flowers and trinkets, such as a signed softball from the Conant team.
Over the weekend, McCoy ordered 2,000 rubber bracelets with the words "Stop Dating Violence" with a heart, followed by the numbers "4-17-09." Students plan to sell the bracelets for $2 during lunch and then donate the money to a fund established for the Engelhardts by St. Peter church officials. The bracelets are green, Laura's favorite color.
Additionally, friends are trying to contact officials from television's "American Idol," Laura's favorite show. She used the handle "JPL fan 4 ever" to post on message boards, typing about topics like her affection for contestant Chris Daughtry. McCoy would like if contestants or judges could wear the bracelet and honor Laura's memory.