Ron Antonelli/New York Daily News
Pedro Hernandez' wife Rosemary (pictured) and daughter Rosemary returned to their New Jersey church for the first time since Hernandez's confession in the slaying of Etan Patz.
The wife and daughter of the confessed killer of 6-year-old Etan Patz sought solace Sunday in the arms of the Lord, returning to church for the first time since Pedro Hernandez?s shocking arrest.
Hernandez?s wife, Rosemary, still sported a wedding ring on her finger as she and her college-age daughter, Becky, took their usual seats in the second row at Maranatha Christian Fellowship church in Moorestown, N.J.
Rev. George Bowen seemed to have written the sermon with them in mind.
?Whatever is going on in your life, whatever the pressure, there is always a bigger picture,? Bowen told the congregation of about 200 worshippers.
?No matter how painful it is, no matter how excruciating it is, God will take the worst of things, and he will work good for you.?
He looked directly at Rosemary as he repeated, ?Believe that today, believe that today.?
Rosemary raised her hands and closed her eyes as she sang along to songs from a visiting Christian rock band. She was accompanied by two of her sisters.
Her daughter Becky barely smiled throughout the service. The women took part in communion when ushers passed silver trays of small pieces of matzo bread and grape juice for the sacred ritual.
Hernandez confessed to killing a child to family members and a prayer group from another church years ago.
Etan?s body was never found after he vanished on May 25, 1979, while walking to a SoHo bus stop.
After a relative tipped off cops last month, Hernandez told investigators he lured Etan into the basement of the bodega where he worked, strangled him and dumped his body in the trash.
Hernandez?s wife and daughter, who have declined to speak to reporters since his arrest, were whisked away into a waiting black minivan at the end of Sunday?s service by church elders.
Bowen has been counseling the family and knew they might return to the flock Sunday.
?Becky is still really struggling,? Bowen said. ?She could barely talk.?
?Rosemary seems like she?s doing OK,? he added. ?We?ll see how the story unfolds.?
jcunningham@nydailynews.com
gene kelly zoe saldana zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt debra messing ayaan hirsi ali rachel uchitel new years eve party ideas
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.