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Volume 41, Issue 6
November 11, 2003
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November
11 , 2003
Friends recall couple's warmth
Students Remembered
Corey Hunt
Mesa Legend
While the murder of MCC student Lisa Gurrieri and her boyfriend, ASU
student Brandon Rumbaugh, remains under investigation, friends and family
are remembering their lives.
To celebrate their one-year anniversary, the couple parked near Bumble
Bee Road about two miles from Interstate 17.
Camped out in the back of Gurrieri’s mother’s truck, their
modest celebration was interrupted by gunfire as unknown assailant(s)
gunned down the couple. The double homicide of Gurrieri and Rumbaugh shocked
Yavapai County, where the murders took place, as well as the local community
in which both students lived.
The bodies were found by a small search party on Oct. 19.
Both suffered multiple shots to the head.
Memorial services for Gurrieri were held at Christ the King Catholic Church
on Oct. 26.
She was laid to rest a day later at Mesa Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Family friend, Luis Hernandez, said, “It was the saddest funeral
I have ever attended. The amount of visitors and cars filled the streets
almost causing a traffic accident.”
Gurrieri, a secretary at SRP, and Rumbaugh, a personal trainer at Fitness
Works Gym, lived together in a Scottsdale apartment.
Gurrieri was a business student attending MCC. She was remembered by classmates
as bright caring young woman.
Gurrieri was a graduate of Mesa High School, and had deep roots in the
Valley.
She sang in the church choir, where she was a familiar face.
A car wash to raise money was held on Oct. 25 and raked in donations that
exceeded expectations.
“She had an infectious personality; you could not not like being
around her,” Hernandez added.
Rumbaugh was known by friends as a vibrant young man and was a drummer
in a local band, as well as an avid painter and sculptor.
He participated in many dance performances throughout the Valley since
his days at Coronado High School.
Services for Rumbaugh were held at Scottsdale Bible Church and a fund
has been set up in Rumbaugh’s name by his co-workers at Fitness
Works Gym.
The fund was established in an attempt to help other college students
financially.
Gurrieri’s family has offered a reward for any information leading
to the prosecution of anyone involved in with the homicide.
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