- Cassidy Stay survived Ronald Haskell’s alleged July 9 shooting rampage
- Haskell, 33, is accused of tying up and executing Katie and Stephen Stay, and four of their children aged 4 to 14
- More than $277k has been raised through GoFundMe for the teen
- Cassidy and grandfather Roger Lyon attended a memorial event at Lemm Elementary School in Texas on Saturday
- It marked Cassidy’s first public appearance since the tragedy
Generous strangers have raised more than $277,000 for the Texas teen who watched in horror as her ex-uncle allegedly executed her parents and four siblings at her home last week. Cassidy Stay, 15, survived the July 9 massacre by playing dead when a bullet grazed her head, before calling police. Inspired by the teenager’s heroism, thousands of supporters around the world have donated nearly $300,000 to an online GoFundMe campaign called ‘Stay Strong’ to assist her.
The ‘Stay Family Tragedy – Cassidy Stay Fund’ went live on Thursday, the day after the massacre, and within 24 hours approached $150,000.
‘We had no idea that it would be the official site for that the family,’ Jody Dellinger, one of the founders of the site, told Community Impact News. ‘The outpouring just dumbfounds me when you have a tragedy like this.’ On Saturday, Cassidy and her grandfather Robert Lyon attended a celebration of life organized in Spring to remember their slain loved ones. After taking a deep breath, a smiling Cassidy mounted the stage to address more than 400 people who came out to pay tribute to her parents and siblings, as seen in a video of the event recorded by Click2Houston. She began by thanking those people who have been praying for her and the entire Stay family, and the first responders and medical personnel who took care of her. With her voice slightly cracking, Cassidy said: ‘I’m feeling a lot better and I’m on a very straightforward path to a full recovery.’ Before continuing her prepared remarks, the brave young woman drew another deep breath and then proceeded to quote from one of her favorite books in the Harry Potter series. ‘In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore says, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light,”’ she told the audience, wiping away tears. In a voice filled with emotion, Cassidy Stay then told those in attendance she is certain that she and her family will be reunited someday. ‘I know that my mom, dad, Bryan, Emily, Becca, and Zach are in a much better place, and that I’ll be able to see them again one day,’ she said. Cassidy then flashed a smile and exclaimed, ‘Stay Strong,’ which has become a rallying cry for the girl’s family and the Spring community. Before the event at Lemm Elementary School, Cassidy helped release 600 colorful balloons into the air – 100 for each slain member of her family. Katie Stay, 34, her husband, Stephen, 39, and four of their five children between the ages of 4 and 14 were shot dead in their suburban Houston home last Wednesday. Ronald Haskell, 33, has been charged with capital murder in connection to the massacre. During his first court appearance Friday, a disheveled-looking Haskell with handcuffs on his wrists collapsed in twice as a prosecutor read out details of the crime. The heavyset man had to be lifted into a wheelchair and removed from the courtroom. Authorities have said Haskell was searching for his ex-wife, Katie Stay’s sister, Melanie, when he came to the Stays’ home in Spring. Those who knew the Haskells have said that the couple had a rocky marriage, and that Melanie was desperate to get away from her husband who allegedly beat her in front of their children. Haskell pleaded guilty to simple assault in a domestic violence-related incident in 2008, according to Utah state court records. Court documents show that both Hasekll’s mother and sister had requested restraining orders against him following domestic violence incidents that took place in November 2013 and as recently as last week.
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