The tragic story of 9 month old Lauryn Dickens still manages to shatter the hearts of many fifteen years after the incident occurred in Memphis, Tennessee.
The soft, gentle child with a bright smile vanished on September 7, 2010, in a case that even stunned the entire nation. Her mother, Shakara Dickens, first claimed that a mysterious woman took Lauryn to care for her but the following revealed the truth.
After a series of investigations, the authorities confirmed that Lauryn had never left the apartment. Under the pressure from the authorities, Shakara folded and confessed to killing her daughter and discarding the baby in a dumpster. Lauryn’s remains were never found.
Shakara pleaded guilty to her crimes and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Though justice was served, the incident leaves behind a pain that might never subside. Lauryn’s case goes to show the world how the innocence of the world can be stolen and the importance of protecting the little children who cannot protect themselves.
Lauryn would have probably been a teenager today. Her story continues to touch the hearts of many across Memphis, where candles are still lit in her memory. A small and gentle light for a baby that never got the chance to grow up.
