The questions remain. They are simple. How? Why?
Four days following the tragic evening that saw the Meremec River claim the lives of five black youths who were in the water but unable to swim, there are no answers to those questions.
Edris Jones, who lost four children in this horrific event, told members of the Dream Center and friends, “I just want to tell you guys to let it go.”
“My kids are in heaven. Rejoice, and one day, if you have Christ in your heart and are right with God, you’ll see them again. I know I’ll see my kids again.”
However, authorities can’t just “let it go,” and are attempting to determine if there was adequate supervision for the outing.
Since the deaths occurred at a Castlewood State Park, state police and Department of Natural Resources officials can investigate the drownings.
Several legal experts have told the American that the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office could also call for a grand jury investigation if it deems it necessary to ascertain if there was criminal negligence or other factors that contributed to the deaths of the children.
St. Louis County police spokesmen have said that the department does not foresee filing charges.
Five youths, all under the age of 17 drowned in the Meremec River amidst terror and confusion.
Dead are Deandra Sherman, 16 of the 4800 block of Anderson, and Bryant Barnes, 10; Ryan Mason, 14; Dana Johnson, 13; and Damon Johnson, 17, all of the 4800 block of Margaretta and Jones’ children.
Unlike Jones, Sherman’s mother is considering filing a lawsuit against the Joyce Meyer Ministry, which operates The Dream Center.
Like the former Parish, the majority of Dream Center’s congregation is black.
On Tuesday, the former rapper Synista, who has been born again and now performs as Mynista, was scheduled to perform a concert at the center.
The center is at 4324 Margaretta Avenue and is about four blocks west of Fairground Park. According to its website, The Dream Center offers Christian-based social service programs. Staff members have delivered food to the homeless and brought them to the center for religious services. The center also provides transitional housing and has activities and services for children.
More than 12 years ago, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, which included a school, rectory and convent, merged with nearby St. Elizabeth to form a larger, stronger parish that remains predominantly black.
It left behind its north St. Louis campus, which set idle for two years before it was purchased by the Joyce Meyer Ministries, which established the St. Louis Dream Center.
“There are loads of people and loads of cars there all the time,” said Joe Wiley, a former Holy Rosary member, parochial administrator and St. Elizabeth member.
“The place looks good, they had a beautiful Christmas display two years ago.”
At the American’s press time, funeral services for Moore’s four children were planned for later in the week but details were not available.
Services for Deandra will be at a funeral home and at Mercy Seat Baptist Church early next week, according to his family.
