TRAVERSE CITY -- The news of the death of Carly Lewis spread quickly these past couple days. Thousands of people have been following the story since she went missing nearly 2 weeks ago.
The emotional toll is being felt across the community and in all of northern Michigan with people stunned that such a violent crime could happen in their neighborhood.
7&4’s Kate Fox spent the Wednesday near an area where community members have been coming to remember and honor the life of Carly Lewis.
Some knew Carly, others were perfect strangers…what connects them is the impact that this tragedy has had on their lives and the entire community.
Traverse City Resident Pam Anderson says, “It’s hard you never thought something like this would happen in your town.”
Anderson didn't know Carly Lewis but says she can't imagine losing her own daughter, this was a thought shared by many who visited the crime scene.
Traverse City Resident Robert Schoenfeldt says, "I didn't know Carly at all....just have an older daughter little older than Carly's age…it's just horrible... I really feel for the parents."
The community is pulling together by bringing flowers to the gate, hanging a rosary that blows in the wind and even dropping off personal letters addressed to the 16-year-old whose life was cut too short.
Those that didn’t know her struggle to make sense of what happened.
Traverse City resident Adriana Tusan come to check out the crime scene and says, "It’s so surreal, coming out here and actually seeing it right where it took place. It never hit any of us till now.”
Traverse City Resident Danielle Ndambuki says, "Just the fact that Carly was a free spirit, she never knew where she was, and she just went along with the flow so she probably didn't suspect anything to happen."
Ndambuki also knew the man police say confessed to the murder saying, "He was a class clown, always trying to make someone laugh. I would have never in a million years suspected this."
