Family and friends of woman and young girl killed during mental health crisis in Missouri hold vigil

Family and friends of a West Seattle woman and 11-year-old girl who were killed in St. Louis County, Missouri, nearly two weeks ago gathered at High Point Commons Park Sunday afternoon for a vigil in their memory.

The family of 53-year-old Mioshi McCloud and 11-year-old My’Elle Harris told KIRO 7 it had been a tough few weeks for them.

“Just out of the blue, a loved one, especially a little sister, can be taken away from you just like that,” Schwanda Taylor Crow, McCloud’s sister, told KIRO 7.

Crow said McCloud moved to the St. Louis area over a year ago to make a fresh start and be closer to other family. She said her sister was a great singer who participated in many concerts, collaborations and projects in Seattle over the years.

As for My’Elle, family and friends said she was a miniature version of Mioshi who loved to read.

“Just a mommy’s and grandma’s girl. A girl through and through,” said Florida Steele Taylor, Mioshi’s sister-in-law.

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Berkeley police found McCloud and Harris stabbed to death in a home nearly two weeks ago. Police arrested McCloud’s own son, 28-year-old Lawrente’ O’Cain, in connection with their deaths. He remains in custody and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action.

Florida Steele Taylor, Mioshi’s sister-in-law, said McCloud tried for a while to get O’Cain psychiatric help. She also believes this tragedy is a sign of the mental health issues the U.S. continues to fail to address.

“But it also needs to give us the opportunity to talk about what mental health really means in our society,” Taylor said.

“They failed them down there. They failed them,” Crow said.

And while many people at Sunday’s vigil had fond memories of McCloud and Harris, they believe the mental health treatment system is broken and hope something like this never happens to another family.

“The system is broken and has failed our communities. Not just this community, but all communities,” Crow said.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family with funeral and other expenses.