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We Sure Miss Her: A Father Speaks About His Daughter’s Murder
March 25, 2010
Danny Cain of Cantonment put new flowers on his daughter’s grave Wednesday morning.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Cain told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon. She was a rodeo star, a proud Tate graduate, and doing what she loved — working with animals at the office of a Pensacola veterinarian.
That all changed one year ago when the body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 on March 25, 2009 — one year ago today.
“It was a senseless deed,” Cain said. “There’s no way to explain it.”
Scott Joseph Thompson, 30, of Pensacola, has been charged with second degree murder for the strangulation death. He remains in the Escambia County Jail awaiting trial.
“I think about it every day; something always reminds me of her” Cain said. “There’s no way to explain it. He took her life.”
“His family can visit him in jail; we weren’t given that option to see our daughter. My tax dollars are paying for him to sit in jail. It’s pretty disgusting when you think about it for a while.”
Cain admits sometimes he thinks that he would like to sit down face to face with Thompson. “I wish I could talk to him and understand why.”
The support of friends, family and church have been important for the Cain family. A memorial in front of the gas station where Cheryl’s body was discovered has also provide a bit of solace. Hundreds of stuffed animals and handwritten notes have been left behind by the community. But nothing, Cain said, replaces the empty void created by the murder.
“We sure miss her. I wish we could have her back.”
Thompson has been held without bond since his arrest on June 9. When he was arrested on the second degree murder charges, he was already in the Escambia County Jail for violating probation on 2007 narcotics charges, according to court records, waiting for a bed to become available in a drug treatment facility.
DNA evidence from the dumpster and in Cain’s car were used to charge Thompson with second degree murder, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Thompson’s DNA was reportedly found in Cain’s vehicle, which was located after the murder at a Pensacola motel.
Cain’s wallet was found under Thompson’s bed, authorities said.
Thompson’s jury trial has been tentatively scheduled to begin May 10.
Pictured top: Cheryl Cain and her dog Bandit. Pictured bottom inset: Cain’s body was discovered in this Pensacola dumpster. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bottom photo courtesy WEAR.
Comments
26 Responses to “We Sure Miss Her: A Father Speaks About His Daughter’s Murder”
The drugs are to blame in this. That girl would be alive if Scott had never gotten himself addicted. He is no psyco. He was a immature, and he was very addicted to drugs. He made a very bad decision. The lesson to be learned from all of this is, don’t underestimate the evil of drug addiction. I knew Scott well. I never thought him capable of this. If not for the drugs, I don’t think he would have done this, not for any amount of money. We should all watch our friends and relatives, don’t let them get addicted, say something to them. Do something, shake them to their senses. Don’t assume that they can handle it, or that they won’t do something like Scott did.
Guilty verdict! Life in prison for Scott Thompson.
The trial will start soon and I pray that we will be able to help justice get served for Cheryl and your family.
i’m so sorry for everything ya’ll have had to go thru. your family has always been so good to me and ya’ll are the last people who would ever deserve something like this. everytime i go to a rodeo and see cindy it makes me think about cheryl. we never really hung out but we talked up at central the few times she came by. i just hope that time will ease your pain. if ya’ll ever need anything don’t ever hesitate to call. my thoughts and prayers are with ya’ll.
I thank everyone for your support.We will stay strong and keep our faith. We dont understand why this happened but we know god has a plan for her and us. We hope the trial is comming soon .I know it will be hard but we will make it for Cheryl..
To the Cain Family:
I am so sorry for the terrible loss of you daughter, Cheryl. I know you must be
hurting so much. I can’t even imagine the terible loss and pain your family is
going through. My prayers are with you and that you may find peace in knowing
that your daughter is now safe in the arms of our Heavenly Father.And that one
day you will see and be with her again.
May God be your strength that you rely on daily thru this. I sympathize with you understanding of your pain. I also have lost my only daughter to an accident that ultimately took her life that we don’t and won’t ever know what really happened.
God will have justice with the adversaries of the wickedness of this world. I know by our nature that usually isn’t satisfying to hear, I have had those same feelings where I would have liked to have had the opportunity to speak to the person related in my daughter’s accident and to hear honestly what happened, instead of a few different stories. There will justice in God’s time, I hope that brings you Peace and comfort to you Sir and your family. GOD is my STRENGTH.
My thoughts and prayers go out as well to this family. As a father of three daugthers I couldn’t possibly fathom this heinous deed. May the Lord’s love, grace and mercy comfort you and you family.
Her family will help anyone that is in need. i didnt know her well but i know her daddy through a friend, he will drop anything he is doin to fix someones broken part or build it for them. as for scott i didnt know him but i think the good ole’ boys should be allowed to take care of him. remember drugs are not a reason for doing something like this to a young woman.
To mary!I pray for scotts family too.I pray that they will get to see him spend the rest of his life in prison!!!
My prayers are with this family. My sister was murdered seven years ago and I think of her everyday and the sinceless pain she must have suffered. May God be with you.
Take comfort in the fact that even if the system doesnt punish him the way it should if he is guilty ,the Lord knows without a doubt and the spineless murder will be punished by our father
Cheryl was friends with my daughter Chania and Chania said she was such a wonderful person. She will be missed greatly throughout the community and among all of her friends. She did NOT deserve this . I hope justice wii be served. Chania has always spoke very highly of Cheryl’s family. I wish you all the best and I will continue to pray for you all.
To mary scotts parents can still visit him we cant visit our girl
My prayers are with this family. I am sincerely sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful young woman.
My prayers go out for Scott’s family!
Our prayers are with the Cain family. Lean on the LORD, He will ease your pain. You have a hard road ahead with the trial and having to face this criminal. Be strong for each other.
He deserves the needle or better yet the old fashioned method works better.
I agree he should be sentenced to death. It’s only fair. I mean who could kill a teenage kid like that.
I knew Cheryl just from when she worked at my vet…. even when she moved on to another she remembered my dogs and acted like she had jsut seen them the day before. She had a great sense of humor and a kind, compassionate heart. I am so sorry for your loss.
He needs to be sentenced to death. An eye for an eye!
Now I know why all of these stuffed animals are in front of this gas station, as driving by there one day, we had saw them and wondered; I had said someone might have gotten into an automobile accident and was killed there, but now I know why they are there. This is so terrible… This young lady did not deserve this, my heart goes out to her family and friends. This criminal deserves more than just getting help for drugs, he deserves the maximum in prison!!!
what a piece of crap he is to kill someone i knew she was a verry great girl that love all animals she didnt diserve this and for his sake i hope they keep him locked up cause if he ever gets out we have our own justice
So sad.
Although I didn’t know your daughter, my heart hurts for you and your family with the loss you all have suffered. May justice be served in time. May God comfort you.