November 24th, 2013

JUSTICE for Megan!

From the dailyherald.com:

A 19-year-old man was sentenced Friday to life in prison plus 20 years for fatally shooting former Wheaton volleyball standout Megan Boken while trying to steal her cellphone.

Keith Esters was sentenced after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in the August 2012 killing in St. Louis, Mo. He initially was charged with first-degree murder.

Boken, 23, was a volleyball star at St. Francis High School in Wheaton and former player at Saint Louis University. She was slain after returning to St. Louis for a job interview and volleyball reunion.

Prosecutors said Esters shot her as she sat in her car talking to her mother. His cousin, Jonathan Perkins, awaits trial as the accused getaway driver.

Boken’s father, Paul, said the family was “satisfied” with Esters’ guilty plea, but it “does not provide us with closure.”

“Nothing can do that,” he said. “It does, however, give us a sense that justice was served.”

Boken’s mother, Lisa, said she felt like part of her body and soul had been “ripped out.”

Boken was slain in broad daylight, shot twice in the neck and chest. Witnesses heard gunshots and saw a man running from the scene. Esters and Perkins were charged about a week later after an extensive investigation.

On Friday, Boken’s family members called on cellphone makers to adopt new technologies to make stolen phones inoperable if reported stolen.

Paul Boken said cellphone-related crimes account for 30 percent of crimes in New York City and 50 percent of crimes in San Fransisco.

“I can think of no other situation where a person can take something from someone else and turn it into hundreds of dollars virtually overnight,” he said. “Doing nothing is not an option. If the manufacturers are not willing to fix the problem, our representatives should legislate a solution.”

Megan Boken was a two-time Daily Herald all-area volleyball player. She helped lead the St. Francis team to two state championships before going to Saint Louis University, where she was on two teams appearing in the NCAA Tournament. At the time of her death, she was an Edward Jones financial adviser in Wheaton.

“I was proud of Megan every day of her life,” her father said.

September 3rd, 2012

The 2 suspects of Megan’s have been charged with murder. Now, Megan’s family finally opens up.

Mrs. Boken started to become suspicious when her phone call was dropped the evening she tried to contact her daughter. She tried calling again but had no success.

“The last sound that came out, I didn’t quite know what it was. I’m a mom, I’m always worried. I felt at the time that … OK, something isn’t right here.”

The worrying parents contacted Megan’s sister, Annie, who was also in St. Louis for the weekend. They asked her to go to the Central West End neighborhood where Megan was visiting a friend before the alumni game at St. Louis University.

Annie together with her husband, discovered news trucks and police tape. They were later driven by a detective to the hospital where Megan’s body was taken.

“He didn’t want to tell us what was happening. And I thought, since he’s not telling us, this can’t be good.” shares Annie.

When the detective told them about the tragedy…

“I couldn’t even cry. I was just sitting there, holding on to my husband. You think tears are going to come, and nothing comes out. I thought for sure it was not her. It couldn’t be her. This was all a mix-up.”

Megan’s dad, Paul Boken:

“These kinds of things don’t happen to us. It doesn’t happen to people in Wheaton. It was just so shocking.

Mornings are difficult.

So is visiting the cemetery and thinking about what this tragedy took from his family.

The arrests brought some sense of relief, knowing that, if police arrested the right people, they won’t hurt anyone else. But the arrests don’t bring satisfaction or happiness.”

Megan’s mom, Lisa Boken:

“There’s going to be a hole in our family that’s never going to be the same. Right now I just can’t get over the fact that she’s gone. I’m hoping maybe at some point there’ll be some answers,” Lisa Boken said. “I don’t understand. Why did he have to shoot her? What did she possibly do to anybody that they had to shoot her?”

As for Megan’s siblings, her youngest sister, Mary, has returned to high school. Her older brother, Joe, has not gone back to work. Finally, Annie, an attorney, is expected to go back to work after the Labor Day weekend.

Life goes on but Megan will never be forgotten.

(image & source: Chicago Tribune)

August 26th, 2012

Here’s the official statement of the Boken Family on the death of their precious angel:

“On Saturday afternoon (August 18th), our daughter Megan lost her life.

On behalf of the entire Boken family, we would like to thank everyone who has provided comfort, support and prayers during this difficult time. We are especially thankful to the Central West End NSI for establishing a $10,000 reward fund to encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist in the investigation.”

From one of Megan’s closest friends:

“None of our lives will ever be the same. She was my best friend and she is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met.” -Sarah Entzeroth.

This video says it all of Megan’s death, a 23 year old former volleyball player from St. Louis University, who was shot and killed last Saturday after robbery while she was in her car.

As of August 23rd, St. Louis police has arrested two suspects, Keith Esters and Johnathan Perkins, who are cousins & are both 18 years of age.

“We are confident based on the evidence we have that we have the killers of Megan Boken.” according to St. Louis, Missouri Police Chief Dan Isom.

Upon hearing the arrest, Megan’s dad, Paul Boken, released this statement:

“We’re gratified with the progress they made in the case. It was a very difficult day today but with all of the people here for us, helped us get through it.”

According to our source:

“St. Louis media are reporting that police traced a stolen cellphone from an armed robbery on August 10th in the same neighborhood where Boken was killed. Police and sources are saying that cellphone led them to the two people who are now in custody.”

Watch This:

Megan was laid to rest last Thursday morning at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in her hometown of Wheaton.

Here are some excerpts from Fr. Dan Hoehn’s homily:

“In the face of such a tragedy, there can be a number of responses. One of them can be to question the existence of God; to say, ‘If something so obviously wrong can happen, then how can there be a God?’

“The fact that we all recognize that something is wrong – that some order has been disrupted – is evidence of a universal presumption that there is order in the universe. And if there is order, then there must be an Order-er.”

Our condolences to Megan’s family and loved ones.

With the suspects now in custody, Megan’s precious soul can finally…

Rest In Peace.