Jeremy Johnson

I have gone back and forth about sharing this update because asking for financial support does not come easily to me. When our beautiful 13-year-old daughter, Jayda, was killed, our community surrounded our family with extraordinary love and kindness. Every donation, message, prayer, and act of support helped carry us through one of the darkest times of our lives. We remain deeply grateful to every person who stood beside us. Although time has continued to move forward, our family’s life has not simply returned to normal. I have been unable to return to work because of rotator cuff injuries in both shoulders. The loss of income, combined with my physical limitations and the continuing weight of our grief, has made maintaining financial stability increasingly difficult. We are sharing this update for those who would like to continue supporting our family. Donations will help us manage essential household expenses while I remain unable to work. A portion of the funds will also be used to create secure, long-term backups of Jayda’s photos and videos. Those photos and videos hold her voice, her laughter, and the ordinary moments we never imagined would one day become priceless. We currently have many of them stored only on our phones, and we want to protect them from being lost if a phone is damaged, lost, or replaced. Safely preserving these memories is one of the most meaningful things we can do to honor Jayda and keep those pieces of her life with us. We also want to share an important update in Jayda’s case. Samuel Gizaw has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Snohomish County Courthouse, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. We respectfully invite anyone who has followed Jayda’s story or been touched by her life to attend and stand with our family. Your presence would be a powerful reminder that Jayda’s life mattered, that she has not been forgotten, and that our family does not have to face this next step alone. We ask that everyone who attends do so peacefully and respectfully, in a way that honors Jayda. A donation is deeply appreciated, but financial support is not the only way to help. Sharing this fundraiser, attending the sentencing, or simply continuing to speak Jayda’s name are all meaningful ways to stand beside us. Thank you for continuing to surround our family with love, for helping us protect Jayda’s precious memories, and for keeping the memory of our beautiful girl alive. ❤️