LIVERPOOL -- Her story has tugged on the hearts of so many people across Central New York.
From Jenni-Lyn Watson's closest family and friends to people who didn't know her at all -- the young women's death has prompted an outpouring of community support, from the time she went missing until now -- more than a month after her body was found.
A benefit at Sharkey's in Liverpool was aimed at raising $10,000 toward Jenni-Lyn's dance scholarship fund at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, where the 2008 Liverpool High School graduate was studying dance. Even organizer Paul Davie, like so many, didn't know Jenni-Lyn personally but was touched by the tragedy.
"For me personally, I have two teenage daughters and it could easily happen to them," he said.
Also at the benefit was Samantha Lawrence -- a 2009 graduate of Liverpool High School. She started selling Jenni-Lyn bracelets a few days before Christmas and has gone through 400 of them so far.
"It makes me feel warm -- I really don't know how to put it," she said. "(I know) that if something happened to me, the community would be there to support me too."
We won't know for a few days how much has been raised. There were also gifts baskets, t-shirts and raffles at the benefit. Those proceeds will go to the Watson family so they can help local dancers.
There is also a memorial concert tomorrow at the New Beginnings Christian Center on State Fair Boulevard. It goes from 5:30 pm-10:30pm . Tickets are $5 and proceeds go to the Watson Family as well.
