Mother Of Slain 3-Year-Old Talks About Daughter's Death

PENDLETON, Ohio -- The mother of a little girl found killed along with two other people in Pendleton spoke to News 5 Thursday about the man considered a person of interest in the killings.

Crystal Lewis was the mother of 3-year-old Sharailyn Wright -- Shay Shay for short. She said her daughter was bright and cheerful and loved to watch Hannah Montana.

"I'm thinkin' she out somewhere playin', so it ain't hit me yet, not yet anyway," said Lewis.

Lewis was the one who found her daughter dead, along with her friend Noelle Washington and Washington's infant son, Anthony Jones.

Lewis said she had been exchanging text messages with Washington in the hours before the killings. She told News 5's John London that Washington told her something had happened that day and she just felt something was wrong.

"It was my gut instinct to go. Something told me to go. Go get my daughter, go get my friend," she said.

A half hour later, Lewis made the discovery at Washington's apartment on East 13th Street, where the community has now set up a memorial to remember the three victims.

Mark Pickens has been named a person of interest in the killings. He has not been formally charged, though a court clerk indicated charges were forthcoming.

Pickens had dated Washington and was charged with shooting at the father of Washington's son in March. Prosecutors said Pickens also raped Washington the day before her death, though rape charges have not been filed.

Lewis had strong words for Pickens.

"That's a monster. That's not no man, that's not no boy, that's a monster," she said. "He took three lives, let's take his life. That's how I feel."