Just seven months before her own untimely death, Danielle Locklear was making sure her grandfather's grave was decorated. The 15-year-old smiled into a camera lens placing mementos on the gravesite. It was typical of her to be upbeat, helpful and caring. Now, Danielle rests next to her grandfather on the plot that was bought with the family believing the elders would precede the young...
Holding a picture of the couple headed to a winter dance at Locklear's South View High School almost puts the family in a daze. "Je'Michael and Danielle, looking very sweet, very innocent," said Simmons. "Now looking at that photograph, you never would have thought. You never would have thought. So thing are not always what they seem."
In the days leading up to Locklear's murder, her family members said she was noticeably down. Locklear and Malloy, an aspiring Marine, had broken up, but again, on the surface it seemed typical of what teens go through. "She had a deep sadness about her," said Simmons, with other family members nodding in agreement around Locklear's grave. "When at that time, hindsight would say, we should've taken out the time and stopped and said 'Dannie, what's on your mind? I can see something's not right.'"
