By Brian Anderson
State Press

Sept. 9, 1997

TEMPE —There were calls for hope and forgiveness in a quiet church on a busy Tempe street corner Monday night as friends and family turned out to honor Fiona Yu, an ASU student who was murdered last month.

Golden pews basked in the dimming sunlight of the early evening hours as Father Nathan Castle called on the small group gathered in All Saints Catholic Newman Center to look beyond the violent act toward happier times.

"Your sister died violently," Father Castle told Fiona Yu's 18-year-old twin brother and sister Kevin and Samantha Yu. "I hope those pictures don't dominate your minds. We have a future."

Many shed tears as somber melodies of "Amazing Grace" floated through the airy church. Mourners prayed, sang and vocally sought strength to grant forgiveness to an elusive killer.

"She gave up her life so I could live mine," said Kevin Yu, adding that he and the rest of his family hold hope that the killer will be brought to justice.

"I don't think our family would be able to go on without knowing who did this," said Samantha Yu.

Fiona, a 21-year-old business major, was found dead Aug. 4 in the second floor hallway of her Cypress Gardens apartment, 1015 S. Stanley Place.

Yu's roommate, Kazu Ito, a 22-year-old purchasing and logistics major, told Tempe police at the time that she found Yu clinging to life with head injuries and marks on her neck.

She was taken to Tempe St. Luke's Hospital where she died a short time later.

Manny Wong, one mourner who spoke at the service, said the lifelong possibilities for Fiona could have been limitless.

"Someone with the mind of an evil person snuffed out the life of another princess," he said, referring to the recent death of Princess Diana. "For a graduating student ... it's difficult to bear."

Holding back tears, Samantha sent one last message to her sister: "We will all miss her and we will always love her."