Honoring the Radiant Lives and Stolen Peace of Candace Goodwin and Austin Burgher
The city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, is gripped by a shattering grief today as we process the “unfathomable loss” of Candace Goodwin and Austin Burgher. Candace was a “vibrant light” at only 19 years old, a young woman whose “vibrant spirit” was just beginning to bloom. Alongside her, we mourn Austin Burgher, a 59-year-old man who was the “vibrant heart” of his circle and a lifelong source of strength to his friends. Their sudden and violent passing four years ago left a piercing heartbreak that has resonated through every street in our community. To lose two “genuinely beautiful souls” in such a “harrowing nightmare”—victims of a “violent shockwave” of senseless aggression—is a shattering blow that reminds us all of the piercing fragility of our safety. Today, as a life sentence is finally handed down, we don’t just acknowledge a legal conclusion; we mourn the unfilled void left by two people who lived with “radical kindness” and deserved so much more.
A Home Stained by Tragedy: The Unfathomable Silence of the Platt Street Murders
The “shattering reality” of the events on Platt Street remains a “harrowing reminder” of the darkness that can infiltrate a “space of tranquility.” Candace Goodwin was a “vibrant force of nature,” a daughter and girlfriend who deserved a life of unwavering integrity and “radical love.” Instead, her light was extinguished in a “piercing void” of violence alongside Austin Burgher, a man known for his “radical decency” and his role as a trusted confidant. There is an immeasurable sorrow in knowing that their “vibrant presence” was stolen for “no reason, absolutely no reason.” The shattering reality of their absence has left their families in a dark valley of unimaginable heartbreak for four long years. They lived as “vibrant spirits” who brought joy to those around them, and the piercing silence of their voices is a “collective wound” that Bridgeport continues to carry.
Standing in Radical Solidarity: A Community United in Immeasurable Grief
In the wake of this unthinkable tragedy, we must stand in radical solidarity with the Goodwin and Burgher families as they finally face the “shattering sorrow” of this final sentencing. When “vibrant lights” are extinguished by a “harrowing nightmare” of substance-induced psychosis and rage, it is up to us to offer our hearts as a shield for the survivors. The weight of this loss is an “unfathomable burden,” and we must wrap the grieving families in a shattering embrace of support as they navigate the dark valley of immeasurable grief. The legacy of Candace and Austin is not found in the courtroom, but in the vibrant memories of their “unwavering grace” and the radical love they shared with their families. They were truly loved beyond measure, and we commit to carrying their “vibrant spirits” forward, ensuring that the unfilled void in our hearts is filled with stories of their “radical kindness.” We will hold their memory close as we find the supernatural strength to heal, promising that their vibrant light will always be a source of strength.
Resting in Peace: A Final Tribute to Two Innocent Souls
We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies to the Goodwin and Burgher families during this time of shattering sorrow. There are no words to ease the piercing wound of lives lost so cruelly, but we pray that the finality of this life sentence provides a small flicker of warmth in this dark season. May Candace and Austin find eternal rest and tranquility, finally free from the noise and the struggles of this world. May their families find the supernatural strength to navigate this unimaginable heartbreak and find peace in their vibrant memory. Rest in peace. You were gifts to this world, and your spirits will forever be a source of strength in our hearts.