Laura Leigh Putnam

23 years old

Daughter to Judd and Betty, sister to John and Phillip, fiancee to Justin, friend to those she met

"She was an angel who touched everybody she ever met. She was never disliked by anybody. She was loved by everybody. She was just an amazing person." Justin Moore, longtime boyfriend and her fiancee as of two nights before she was killed

"She always smiled. That's what I remember about her." Liz Boelter, a friend from Zeta Tau Alpha sorority

Thoughts from a grieving and angry mother

My name is Betty Putnam and I am Laura Putnam's mother. I appreciate your interest and input. The person who took Laura's life and made it a crime by fleeing, hiding, and lying, even after the boat was found, just doesn't get it. He still thinks he did nothing wrong. He nor his family have a conscience. His jailtime is an insult as it is, but to try and get out of a lousy 6-mo. sentence is about as sorry as it gets.

This person will never know the extent of our unimaginable grief unless he, himself were to suffer the loss of a child; especial in a crime and I wouldn't wish that off on any child or young person.

Our daughter was such a gift to our family and I am proud to have had her for her short life. She came along much later than her two brothers, who were almost like her parents. Her fiance' asked them and her dad for permission to marry her; all separately. There were 1232 people at Laura's memorial. Laura simply "got it". Some people never do. Her kindness and gentle spirit affected everyone who ever met her. She made a difference in so many lives.

She set the bar high for herself. She was a cheerleader, an honor student, and held down a 20 hr. a week job from the time she was 16. Her senior year in college we MADE her take off from working so she would have a job-free year. She wanted to work and contribute, just as her brothers did. She had finished college, gotten a good job in her chosen field when jobs for recent college grads were hard to find, was planning for the future she had worked so hard for. She had her whole life ahead of her..she was a contributer.

She had the most radient smile and contagious laugh. You couldn't help but laugh with her. So many people have related to me how much she just lit up a room when she walked in. She had so much empathy and caring for everyone, but most especially the "underdog". She always had a special relationship with the young and the elderly. All of this is not just a bereaved Mother talking. Her life is such a testament.

Thank you so much for listening. We are a certain person before we have children. Having them changes us. Conversly, when you lose a child it changes you forever. Things will never be the same and you will never be the same with so much of your heart ripped away..all that is left is a tremendous hole. Thank God we have so many wonderful memories of our wonderful daughter

Sincerely,
Betty Putnam