MOUNT VERNON — Rodney and Susie Chrisman are members of a group that most parents can’t imagine belonging to, Parents of Murdered Children. Their grief still brings tears but through POMC, they found comfort and a way to honor their son’s memory.
Their son, Jarrod A. Chrisman, was shot and killed May 6, 2003, in Mount Vernon. Today would have been his birthday.
Chrisman as shot and killed by Andrew McManis, who was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
The Chrismans also have two other children, Janelle and Jason. Jarrod was their middle child. Following Jarrod’s death, Rodney Chrisman said, “The kids became parents. They took care of us.”
“I felt I lost my brother and my parents,” Janelle said, “and they’re still grieving. Every day our lives are different. Mom and Dad have ups and downs.”
And Janelle tries to move past the loss. At one POMC conference, she led a siblings workshop and it helped her cope. She said her brother, Jason, copes in his way.
“There’s many ways to deal with grief,” Janelle added. “In our family there’s four different ways.”
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