ST. PAUL, Minn. — On a September day that he knew would be hard, 51-year-old Damone Presley marked the occasion with barbecue and balloons.
He was commemorating the one-year anniversary of the day in 2021 that his daughter and her three friends were fatally shot in Minnesota by a man who left their bodies in an abandoned SUV in a Wisconsin cornfield. Presley gathered 50 friends to celebrate the life of his daughter, Nitosha Flug-Presley, who was 30 when she died. He went big on the anniversary because he felt sure that’s what his daughter would have wanted.
“She would always do stuff big,” Presley told The Associated Press.
kAm%96C6 92G6 366? ddb >2DD <:==:?8D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D D:?46 a__e[ 2?5 2E =62DE a[gg_ A6@A=6 92G6 5:65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD2E@52J]4@>^:?\56AE9^8C2A9:4D^a_aa^_g^`g^>2DD\<:==:?8D\52E232D6\FD\6G6?ED\D:?46\a__e^hf_db``__aQm52E232D6k^2m >2:?E2:?65 3J %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 2?5 k6>m&$p %@52Jk^6>m :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 }@CE962DE6C? &?:G6CD:EJ] %9@D6 :?4=F56 <:==:?8D H96C6 7@FC @C >@C6 5:65[ ?@E :?4=F5:?8 E96 2DD2:=2?E[ H:E9:? 2 ac\9@FC A6C:@5] $@ 72C :? a_ab[ E96 ?2E:@? 92D H:E?6DD65 E96 9:896DE ?F>36C @? C64@C5 @7 >2DD <:==:?8D 2?5 562E9D E@ E9:D A@:?E :? 2 D:?8=6 J62C]k^Am
kAmpD E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 5:6 :? >2DD <:==:?8D :? E96 &]$] 4@?E:?F6D E@ C:D6[ E9@FD2?5D >@C6 2C6 =67E E@ 92?5=6 E96 EC2F>2 @7 =@D:?8 D@>6@?6 E96J =@G6 E@ 2 D6?D6=6DD 24E @7 G:@=6?46] %96J DECF88=6 H:E9 2 DA64:2= <:?5 @7 8C:67[ 92F?E65 3@E9 3J E96 =@DD 2?5 3J 9@H :E 92AA6?65]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 92C56DE 52JD E96J 4@?7C@?E 6249 J62C :D E96 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 <:==:?8]k^Am
kAm%9:D (65?6D52J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^FG2=56\D49@@=\D9@@E:?8Qm72>:=:6D :? &G2=56[k^2m %6I2D[ H:== 92G6 E@ 7246 E92E @?6\J62C 2??:G6CD2CJ — EC2?DA@CE:?8 E96> 324< E@ E96 52J H96? 2 8F?>2? 6?E6C65 #@33 t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 2?5 72E2==J D9@E `h 49:=5C6? 2?5 EH@ E62496CD 2D E96J 82E96C65 E@ 46=63C2E6 E96 6?5 @7 E96 D49@@= J62C] p?5 =2DE H66<[ 72>:=:6D @7 `_ A6@A=6 :? qF772=@[ }]*][ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3F772=@\DFA6C>2C<6E\D9@@E:?8\cheb4b_5b5b4gf5bf2a546g`h4d`322cQm4C@DD65 E96 @?6\J62C >2C<k^2m 7C@> E96 52J 2 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE D9@E 2?5 <:==65 E96> :? 2 DFA6C>2C<6E]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 4@A6 H:E9 E96D6 2??:G6CD2C:6D :? 5:776C6?E H2JD] $@>6 E9C@H 2 A2CEJ E@ 86E E9C@F89 E96 A2:?] ~E96CD AC676C E@ 36 4@>A=6E6=J 2=@?6] |2?J 72== D@>6H96C6 :? E96 >:55=6[ 25@AE:?8 =:EE=6 C:EF2=D E@ 96=A 86E E96> E9C@F89 E96 52J]k^Am
kAmqFE E96J 2== 8C2AA=6 H:E9 E96 D2>6 BF6DE:@?[ D@>6E:>6D 27E6C >2?J J62CD 92G6 A2DD65ik^Am
kAm(92E 5@ x 5@ H:E9 >JD6=7 @? E96 52E6 E92E 492?865 6G6CJE9:?8nk^Am
kAm~? E96 D2>6 52J !C6D=6J 82E96C65 H:E9 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J 2E 9:D 9@>6[ p?86=2 $EFC> — H9@D6 49:=5C6?[ y2D>:?6 $EFC> 2?5 |2EE96H !6EEFD[ H6C6 <:==65 :? E96 D2>6 2EE24< — 49@D6 E@ DA6?5 E96 52J 2=@?6]k^Am
kAm“x EFC? 5@H? :?G:E6D E@ ‘46=63C2E6’ 3642FD6 :E’D ?@E 2 46=63C2E:@? E@ >6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx?DE625[ D96 9@?@CD 96C 49:=5C6? AC:G2E6=J 3J =@@<:?8 2E E96:C A9@E@D 2?5 C6>6>36C:?8 9@H E96:C =:76 E@86E96C FD65 E@ 36] $96 HC:E6D[ 4C:6D 2?5 AC24E:46D D6=7\42C6 3J C625:?8 2 8@@5 3@@< @C E2<:?8 2 9@E 32E9] $96 9@A6D A6@A=6 H:== F?56CDE2?5 D96 H2?ED E@ 36 2=@?6 2?5 E92E E96J D9@F=5?’E H@CCJ @C 36 FAD6E :7 D96 EFC?D 5@H? :?G:E2E:@?D @C 5@6D?’E C6DA@?5 E@ E6IED]k^Am
kAmtG6CJ@?6 562=D H:E9 8C:67 5:776C6?E=J[ D2:5 y677C6J $929:5F==29[ 2 A65:2EC:4 ADJ49@=@8:DE 2E &%\pFDE:? s6== r9:=5C6?’D |65:42= r6?E6C]k^Am
kAm$929:5F==29 H2D A2CE @7 2 E62> E92E DE2J65 :? &G2=56 7@C >@?E9D 27E6C E96 D9@@E:?8 E@ @A6C2E6 2 4C:D:D H2=<\:? 4=:?:4 7@C 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD[ 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD[ 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D @7 G:4E:>D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 D9@CE 2?5 =@?8 E6C>[ >2DD D9@@E:?8D 42? EC2F>2E:K6 6?E:C6 4@>>F?:E:6D[ $929:5F==29 D2:5] %92E 42? =625 A6@A=6 — 6G6? E9@D6 H9@ 5:5?’E <?@H E96 G:4E:>D A6CD@?2==J — E@ 2G@:5 D:EF2E:@?D E92E C6>:?5 E96> @7 E96 6G6?E[ 766= 4@?DE2?E=J F?D276 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 :?ECFD:G6 7=2D9324<D E@ H96? E96J 7:CDE 962C5 23@FE E96 <:==:?8]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 E96D6 DJ>AE@>D 4@F=5 36 6I246C32E65 @C H@CD6?65 2C@F?5 E96 E:>6 @7 E96D6 2??:G6CD2C:6D[” $929:5F==29 D2:5] “~G6C E:>6[ E9@D6 DJ>AE@>D 5@ E6?5 E@ DF3D:56] qFE 6G6CJ@?6 92D E96:C @H? E:>6=:?6]”k^Am
kAmqJ 4CF6= 4@:?4:56?46[ E96 7:CDE 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 qF772=@ DFA6C>2C<6E D9@@E:?8 76== @? |@E96C’D s2J] %92E >256 E9:?8D 6DA64:2==J 92C5 7@C (2J?6 y@?6D[ H9@D6 >@E96C[ r6=6DE:?6 r92?6J[ H2D 2>@?8 E96 `_ A6@A=6 <:==65 3J 2 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE E92E 52J]k^Am
kAmy@?6D D2:5 D@>6 7C:6?5D 42>6 @G6C @? E96 2??:G6CD2CJ[ 2?5 E96J E2=<65 23@FE @E96C E9:?8D]k^Am
kAm“d^`c :D 6G6CJ 52J E@ >6 DE:==[” 96 D2:5] “x H2E4965 >J >@E96C 86E <:==65 @? G:56@]”k^Am
kAm%96 G:56@ 2?5 2 A9@E@ @7 E96 D9@@E6C — DE2?5:?8 H:E9 E96 8F? 96 FD65[ 2 GF=82C C24:2= D=FC D4C2H=65 @? :ED 32CC6= — 2C6 “:?8C2:?65 :? >J 3C2:?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%:CK29 !2EE6CD@? 2?5 96C `b\J62C\@=5 D@?[ y2BF6D “y2<6” !2EE6CD@? — H9@ =@DE 9:D 72E96C[ 49FC49 5624@? w6JH2C5 !2EE6CD@?[ :? E96 DFA6C>2C<6E D9@@E:?8 — =67E E@H? 2=E@86E96C 7@C E96 2??:G6CD2CJ] %96J 92G6 ?@E D6E 7@@E :? %@AD uC:6?5=J |2C<6E D:?46 :E C6@A6?65 =2DE DF>>6C 2?5 5:5 ?@E 2EE6?5 E96 >6>@C:2= 6G6?ED :? qF772=@ 7@C 96C 6I\9FD32?5 2?5 E96 @E96CD H9@ H6C6 <:==65]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?’E H2?E E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E92E 282:?[” %:CK29 !2EE6CD@? D2:5 367@C6 E96 H66<6?5] “(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 8@?6]”k^Am
kAm%96J DA6?E |@E96C’D s2J H66<6?5 :? s6EC@:E 2?5 2EE6?565 2 49FC49 D6CG:46 E96C6]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D@>6 2C6 ;FDE 4C@DD:?8 E96 @?6\J62C >2C<[ @E96CD 92G6 366? 562=:?8 H:E9 E96D6 2??:G6CD2C:6D 7@C J62CD]k^Am
kAm%@A2K r@@<D >2C<65 E96 `_\J62C 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 96C 72E96C’D 562E9 =2DE $6AE6>36C] $96 H2D 2 >@?E9 D9J @7 96C a`DE 3:CE952J :? a_`a H96? 96C 525 2?5 D6G6C2= @E96CD H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^f7bfdge_f4hec37bhcaadgchbgccb7b_QmD9@E 2?5 <:==65 2E H@C< 3J 2 >2? H9@ H2D 7:C65k^2m 7C@> E96 4@>A2?J :? |:??62A@=:D]k^Am
kAm“x DE:== 42??@E 36=:6G6 E92E 92AA6?65 E@ >J 72>:=J[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~? E96 2??:G6CD2C:6D[ D96 =:<6D E@ 5@ E9:?8D 96C 525[ #2>: r@@<D[ 6?;@J65] {2DE J62C[ D96 H6?E @? 2 9:<6 2?5 2E6 56DD6CE — 3642FD6 96C 525 =@G65 CF86=249[ 3:C5D 2?5 H:?5] $96 =@G6D E92E 96C 7C:6?5D D6?5 96C A9@E@D @7 E96:C 56DD6CE E92E 52J 6249 J62C H:E9 E96 42AE:@?i “u@C J@FC 525P”k^Am
kAm$96 2=D@ 92D 2 ;@FC?2= D96 HC:E6D :? @?46 2 J62C @? E92E 52J[ 7:==:?8 96C 525 :? @? E96 9:89=:89ED[ 492==6?86D 2?5 E9@F89ED 7C@> E96 J62C E92E D96 H:D96D D96 4@F=5 D92C6 H:E9 9:>]k^Am
kAm$6G6? J62CD 27E6C E96 <:==:?8[ %@A2K r@@<D D2:5 D96 6IA6C:6?465 !%$s H9:=6 H@C<:?8 2D 2 E962E6C DE286 >2?286C] $96 H2D DFCAC:D65 3642FD6 D96 5:5?’E 6IA64E :E E@ 9:E D@ =2E6] %96 AC@5F4E:@?’D A=@E >2J 92G6 EC:886C65 :E — E96 A=2J H2D 23@FE 2 H@>2? 2G6?8:?8 96C 72E96C’D 562E9]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 D96 H@F=5 86E 6I92FDE65 2E E96 6?5 @7 C6962CD2=D[ =:6 5@H? @? E96 7=@@C @7 96C @77:46 2?5 766= =:<6 D96 4@F=5?’E 86E FA] pE E:>6D[ D96 76=E =:<6 96C D<:? H2D G:3C2E:?8 @C E92E D96 H2D @FED:56 @7 96C @H? 3@5J] xE E@@< >@?E9D @7 E96C2AJ E@ 766= =:<6 D96 H2D 324< :? 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm%2=<:?8 23@FE E96 =@DD :D?’E 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J[ 3FE r@@<D D2:5 :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 96C]k^Am
kAm“x H:D9 E92E A6@A=6 E2=<65 23@FE :E >@C6 2?5 ?@C>2=:K65 :E[” D96 D2:5] “vC:67 :D ;FDE D@ =@?6=J]”k^Am
kAmp 9:?E @7 72== 9F?8 :? E96 2:C $6AE] `a[ E96 52J !C6D=6J E9C6H 2 A2CEJ E@ >2C< E96 52J 9:D 52F89E6C 2?5 96C E9C66 7C:6?5D H6C6 <:==65 2?5 =67E 232?5@?65] w6 D2:5 96 H2?E65 E@ E9:?< 23@FE H9@ 9:D 52F89E6C H2D C2E96C E92? 9@H D96 5:65]k^Am
kAm$96 =@G65 E@ E9C@H 6I4:E:?8 2?5 8=2>@C@FD 3:CE952J A2CE:6D 7@C 96C <:5D[ 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J]k^Am
kAm!C6D=6J A=2465 2 =:76\D:K6 42C53@2C5 4FE\@FE @7 9:D 52F89E6C D>:=:?8 :? 2 A:?< @FE7:E 3J E96 5@@C] vF6DED H@C6 %\D9:CED H:E9 A9@E@D @7 96C 2?5 A9C2D6D =:<6 “}6G6C u@C8@EE6?” 2?5 “s255J’D R` p?86=]” pE !C6D=6J’D C6BF6DE[ 8F6DED 82G6 DA66496D 23@FE E96 7F??:6DE E9:?8D E96J C6>6>36C65 9:D 52F89E6C 5@:?8]k^Am
kAm{2E6 :? E96 27E6C?@@?[ E96J 82E96C65 2C@F?5 E96 7C@?E DE6AD @7 9:D 9@>6[ 4=FE49:?8 C65[ J6==@H[ A:?< 2?5 H9:E6 32==@@?D[ D@>6 6>3@DD65 H:E9 H@C5D =:<6 “u@C6G6C :? ~FC w62CED]”k^Am
kAm(:56\6J65 49:=5C6?[ 7@==@H:?8 E96 =625 @7 E96 25F=ED 2C@F?5 E96>[ =:DE6?65 BF:6E=J 2D 2 H@>2? D2?8 E96 8@DA6= D@?8 “%2<6 |6 E@ E96 z:?8]” !C6D=6J C64:E65 2 A@6> 9:D 72E96C 925 HC:EE6? J62CD 367@C6[ H@C5D !C6D=6J’D 52F89E6C 925 25@C65]k^Am
kAm“x >66E E96 DF?C:D6 52:=J @? E96 H2J E@ 86E >:?6[” 96 C64:E65] “x 5@?’E A=2J >JD6=7 ’42FD6 x 5@?’E 8@E E:>6]”k^Am
kAm(96? 96 7:?:D965 E96 A@6>[ !C6D=6J 82G6 E96 D:8?2= E@ C6=62D6 E96 32==@@?D] %96J D@2C65 DEC2:89E FA[ 86?E=J C:D:?8 23@G6 E96 C@@7E@AD 2?5 5:D2AA62C:?8 :?E@ 2 4=62C 3=F6 D<J]k^Am