Lindsay Rimer was a bright and bubbly 13-year-old girl living in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire in 1994. She had dreams of becoming a teacher and was loved by everyone who knew her. However, her life was tragically cut short when she was brutally murdered while on a simple errand to buy some Cornflakes from a local shop.
It has been 27 years since that fateful day, and Lindsay’s mother, Geri Rimer, is still unable to come to terms with the loss of her daughter. In a recent interview, Geri opened up about the pain and heartbreak she still feels, and how she has been coping all these years.
Geri recalls the day her daughter went missing, “It was a normal evening, and Lindsay asked if she could go to the shop to buy some Cornflakes for breakfast the next day. I never imagined that would be the last time I would see her alive.”
As the hours went by and Lindsay didn’t return home, Geri’s worry turned into panic. She immediately called the police, and a search party was formed to look for her daughter. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but there was no sign of Lindsay.
It wasn’t until five months later that Lindsay’s body was found in the Rochdale Canal, just a few hundred meters from her home. The whole community was in shock, and Geri’s world was shattered. “I couldn’t believe that someone could do this to my sweet, innocent daughter. It was a nightmare that I never woke up from,” she says.
The killer was never found, and the case remains unsolved to this day. But Geri is determined to keep Lindsay’s memory alive and hopes that one day, justice will be served. She has set up a charity in Lindsay’s name, which raises awareness about child safety and supports other families who have lost a loved one to violence.
Despite the pain and grief, Geri has found the strength to forgive whoever is responsible for Lindsay’s death. “Holding onto anger and hatred will not bring my daughter back. I choose to focus on the happy memories I have of Lindsay and the impact she had on everyone’s lives,” she says.
Geri also finds comfort in the fact that her daughter’s legacy lives on through the charity and the people it has helped. “Lindsay was a kind and caring girl, and I know she would be proud of the work we are doing in her name,” she adds.
Over the years, Geri has received an outpouring of support from the community, and she is grateful for their love and kindness. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can raise awareness about the dangers children face and prevent other families from going through the same tragedy.
As for Lindsay’s dreams of becoming a teacher, Geri believes that her daughter’s spirit is still making a positive impact. “Lindsay may not be physically here, but her spirit lives on in the hearts of all those she touched. She may not have become a teacher, but she continues to educate and inspire others through the work of the charity,” she says with a smile.
Geri’s strength and resilience in the face of such a heartbreaking loss is truly inspiring. She has turned her pain into a force for good and continues to spread love and kindness in her daughter’s memory. Lindsay may have been taken too soon, but her legacy lives on through her mother and the countless lives she has touched.
