Deborah Leigh Key
was a teacher who worked with disabled kids. She
is described by friends as a bubbly, effervescent
person. She had contracted a form of
Guillain-Barre Syndrome that had nearly killed her, but had struggled
back from it, exhibiting enormous will power.
In 1997 Debbie disappeared. It is believed that
she was murdered but her body has never been
recovered. Her killer has never been brought to justice.
Her case remains unsolved.
Because there was no body
recovered there was no funeral and no memorial.
This website is maintained by friends of Debbie Key in
her memory. It is meant to tell her story and to
record what was said in the courts, in the press, and in
the public forums of blogs.
If you are a friend of Debbie Key you are welcome to
email your comments and stories about her to this email contact
and they will
be added to this site.
My
Eulogy To Debbie
by Bill W.
What can I say about Debbie Key?
That her favorite color
was pink. Her favorite place was the beach. That she
loved the Pittsburgh Steelers and Patsy Cline.
She loved
children and animals with profound adoration.
She loved
the changing of the seasons, to see the coloring of the
leaves in autumn, the first snow of winter, the first
flowers of spring, and the magic of summer nights.
She
was in love with life, and worshipped every day of it.
Her joy and enthusiasm were freely shared with everyone
she encountered.
How about her triumph after being stricken with
Guillain-Barre Syndrome? Confined to a wheelchair for a
time, she demonstrated a great zeal for life when it was
challenged, and a spiritual fortitude that helped her
overcome her affliction. Debbie continued going to
concerts, and doing the things she loved during that
time.
What has impressed me the most about Debbie is how
she has touched the lives of so many people I have known
for decades. She
had a heart of gold, and her loyalty to her friends was
boundless. Debbie wanted everyone to be happy. She put a
lot of effort into it, and often succeeded.
I regret
that I didn't get to know her as well as many of my
friends, but I'm thankful to everyone who has shared
their personal stories with me. I can see that she's
made quite an impact. There is no doubt in my mind that
she was indeed a very special person, a gift.
I always
enjoy my visits to David and Chris, especially when they
feel up to talking about their very special friend.
David told me about how when Debbie was at their house
in 1996 during Hurricane Fran, taking refuge from the
storm, and she was able to persuade a lost and
frightened cat into their house. Some say that Debbie
could talk to animals, especially cats, and it was
certainly well known that she had a great love for them.
They named the cat Poupon, because he was grey, and the
cat continued to live at their house until he died, not
too long ago.
Whenever I talk to my friends about Debbie, I often hear the word "bubbly"
used to describe her. She possessed a great talent for
cheering people up, making people laugh, and inspiring
people to get off their butts and have fun. Indeed, she
was famous for this. Officer Bob, as he is best known,
perhaps the most popular member of the Carrboro Police
Dept., once described Debbie to me as, "not a malicious
bone in her body."
But Debbie was a human, not an angel,
(maybe she is now) and she did have her faults. She had
a tendency to drink too much, and a tendency to assume
that everyone was good. These things led to her demise.
It was the Sunday night of
Thanksgiving weekend, the night before December 1, 1997,
when the friends she usually hung out with at Sticks and
Stones were with their families. It was then when Debbie
tried to make a new friend and, perhaps for her first
time, failed. I want her killer brought to justice as
much as anyone else, but not before paying tribute to
the life she has lived. The many blessings she has
shared with us should always be remembered. What I want
to emphasize most of all is that Debbie Key is not just
a "murder victim," but a special friend to us all.
Rest in peace, dear Debbie Key Sep 21, 1962 - Dec 1, 1997
What can I say about Debbie Key?
I always
enjoy my visits to David and Chris, especially when they
feel up to talking about their very special friend.
David told me about how when Debbie was at their house
in 1996 during Hurricane Fran, taking refuge from the
storm, and she was able to persuade a lost and
frightened cat into their house. Some say that Debbie
could talk to animals, especially cats, and it was
certainly well known that she had a great love for them.
They named the cat Poupon, because he was grey, and the
cat continued to live at their house until he died, not
too long ago.
