WTHR |Community pays tribute to slain teacher
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Students, family, friends walk to raise scholarship funds in memory of Sandy Bartenbach.
Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Family and friends walked in remembrance of a fallen Crestview Elementary teacher Sandy Bartenbach Saturday.
Her daughter headed up the pack.
"Everyday you think about it," said Samantha Bartenach.
Bartenbach was found on September 18th, stabbed to death in her own home.
There are no arrests, no suspects, and almost two months later, no closure.
"It's hard not having your mom there. I'm getting married and she won't see me walk down the aisle. So that's hard because you're support system's not there anymore. But I know that everyday, she's watching over me and knowing that I'm going to be just fine," explained Samantha.
Her sister says this walk is therapeutic.
"Doing this pushes all that other stuff away and allows us to celebrate to be happy, to meet her classmates, and her children. It just allows a lot of happiness into our hearts right now," said Shirley Dickinson. "Look at all the people she touched in 58 years of living and over 30 years teaching. These are students, some of her classmates when she was in school, and her colleagues."
"She was the energizer bunny of teachers," said Vicki Bratt, Sandy's best friend.
"She was a wonderful teacher, said Jennifer Blair.
"She would be very honored that so many people came out and are wanting to collect money in a scholarship fund," said Lori Kirkland.
"Wwe had teachers, we had students, we had families that donated to our silent auction," Bratt said.
Their goal is to raise $10,000 to send one of her former students to college or trade school every year, continuing her legacy of inspiring students to reach their potential.
"She's a teacher, I'm a teacher. She taught through everything that she did through life, through her kids and to me growing up," said Samantha.
Police say they are moving forward with the investigation but they tell us that's all they can say. Any more could hurt their efforts to find Bartenbach's killer.
Investigators are still asking for tips that may help find the murderer.
You can call crimestoppers at 262-TIPS.
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