Bayshore Residents Upset Over Removal Of Memorial To Mother, Baby

TAMPA, FL – Two unsightly bare spots in the grass are all that remains of a memorial erected to pay tribute to a mother and daughter who were killed on Bayshore Boulevard May 23.

The memorial mysteriously disappeared Tuesday, Aug. 28, and neighbors want to know why.

Members of Keep Our Bayshore Boulevard erected the memorial following the deaths of Jessica, 24, and her daughter, Lillia, 21 months, killed by a teen drag racing a friend down Bayshore Boulevard.

Keep Our Bayshore Beautiful member Zhenya Nichols said the memorial not only honored the mother and daughter but served as a reminder to motorists to slow down.

Now it’s gone.

Nichols said the city of Tampa has confirmed that it removed the memorial, which was on city property.

"The leader of Save Bayshore, Alex Engelman, told me that he spoke to the city and they admitted they took it down," said Nichols. "Supposedly someone complained that our pots rolled down onto Bayshore and created a traffic hazard."

She finds that hard to believe. She said the memorial was modest and tasteful – decorative cement planters filled with blooming flowers and illuminated by solar lights set on either side of the crosswalk at West Knights Avenue where Jessica Raubenolt was crossing with her daughter in a stroller.

The residents take turns watering the flowers every day and hold weekly vigils by the memorial.

“Everything is gone,” said Nichols. “Pots, flowers, everything.”

The cement pots were heavy and she has no knowledge of them dislodging and creating a traffic hazard.

Lillia’s grandmother, Rosi Raubenolt, who lives in Ohio, said she was disappointed to hear the memorial was removed.

“I’m so sorry there are individuals out there that can’t even respect just a little bit the message this was intended to display,” she wrote to members of Keep Our Bayshore Beautiful. “It was so people could see and be aware of the importance of driver safety. On behalf of my family, I want to thank all of you for what you did for our angels, Jessica and Lillia.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Bayshore residents.

“Frankly, I am not surprised,” said Susan Carnes. “I was amazed it lasted as long as it did. However, it seems that this point was made with no compassion for the grieving community nor the victims’ families. The city should erect a memorial and we might need to gather as a community to encourage that outcome.”

“Horrible,” commented Geana Liberatore. “It was a beautiful tribute and made Bayshore look even more lovely.”

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Images courtesy Keep Our Bayshore Beautiful

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