Mickey Shunick headquarters is still open, but they are taking a new direction after the news that the body found in Evangeline Parish is Mickey. Her story brought the community together and impacted even those who never knew her. KATC's Erin Steuber met with one couple who says Mickey's story changed their lives.
"It feels like family," said Tammy Charles who volunteered to help bring Mickey home. "It felt like losing a family member when we got the final word."
Charles and her husband, Brian, have been part of the effort to bring Mickey home since the beginning. They never met Mickey or her family, but because they have a daughter they knew they needed to step in to help.
"We just fell in love with Mickey like everybody else, just completely fell in love with Mickey, and she needed to come home," said Tammy.
Now they are taking what they learned and applying it in the case of missing Duson teen Keiosha Felix.
"We owe that to Mickey you know?" said Tammy. "God put us in that position for a reason and I think if we stop here, and how can we let what happened to Mickey just stop there. We didn't get the happy ending that we wanted."
At headquarters the group is trying to move forward, taking down the missing persons signs and replacing them with purple ribbons, flowers and fond memories.
"It is time for justice," said Shunick family spokesperson Margaret Bearb. "We don't want to see the $25,000 reward anymore. We don't want to see the tip line numbers, we don't want that, we just want her shiny face, justice for the family and for her, and everybody that's involved in this."
They are in the process of planning two memorials within the next two weeks, one for the family, the other for the public. Mickey Shunick's story has changed this community. She will forever be in the hearts and minds of people across Acadiana.
"Inspired by Mickey, and driven by faith," said Bearb. "And that's exactly what our new moto's gonna be and carry that for the rest of our lives."
The Shunick camp tells us they are hoping to have a date for the public memorial by the beginning of the week. We have also learned Shunick's father, Tom, is planning to release a statement soon about all of the developments leading up to this point. We will let you know as soon as hear. The Shunick camp has requested if you are still interested in donating any kind of flowers or gifts, you can drop them at headquarters.