WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Father determined to find Columbia girl's killer

Father determined to find Columbia girl's killer

(Columbia) January 4, 2007 - A Columbia teen was murdered on a Thanksgiving trip to visit her mother. The young girl's memorial service was held in Columbia Thursday.

Crystal Dawkins was excited about her first trip to California. She was going to visit her mother, Christine Bacon.

But Crystal's father was worried. He didn't approve of the mother's lifestyle, "I told her I didn't want her to go. She said, 'Dad I want to go.' That's when I hugged her and kissed her and tell her I love her. I walked away and she said, 'I love you dad.'"

That was the last time Maurice Dawkins saw his 18-year-old daughter alive.

A few days after Crystal arrived in California she quit calling. Dawkins, already suspicious, went out west to do his own search. It ended with a phone call. Investigators told him Crystal and her mother were found dead inside her mother's home.

Crystal is being remembered at her Columbia church as a girl who loved her family and faith.

She worked at the Popeye's off Garners Ferry Road. Co-workers say she was working there to make money for college. There's a simple reminder of her at the counter. That's all she'd want.

Friends like Hattie Goowin say she didn't like a lot of attention, "She was friendly, she was quiet - most of the time quiet."

Barbara Ann Reed says, "She would always greet you with a smile, always pleasant."

Misty Folston remembers, "She was really funny and goofy. She have a nice smile even though she's not having a great day."

During Crystal's memorial, her father said he wouldn't ask "why," "For me to question God - no. I won't ask God why He didn't save her - no. That's God's work."

But he has questions for her killer, "That's between me and the man. I have to do that for my daughter."

Los Angeles county investigators don't have a suspect. Dawkins says he's on his own search again, this time for the person who killed his daughter.

Reported by Maggie Alexander

Posted 11:00pm by Chantelle Janelle