Family holds vigil for murdered metro Atlanta mother Briana Winston

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Those who loved 23-year-old Briana Winston gathered at Trammell Crow Park on Sunday to reflect on her life.

“She was very independent. She had a vision of what she wanted her life to be and she just kept pushing,” said Diana Moore, her godmother.

Clayton County police said the 23-year old mom of one was killed in March during an argument with her boyfriend Michale Edwards. Family said he had them fooled.

“He was quiet, he seemed to be caring, he was very adoring of his daughter, and Briana as well. So, it was extremely shocking,” said Moore.

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Investigators said Edwards allegedly choked her to death, then – along with an accomplice – placed her body in a suitcase, drove to Tennessee and set the suitcase on fire. On top of all that, police believe his wife, brother and mother were all in on it.

“I was enraged. I didn’t understand. A lot of unanswered questions – why?” said Kendrick Langford, Briana’s uncle.

“I talked to Briana on March 16. She asked to come over to the house, and she decided to go to her best friend’s house instead. And the last thing I said to her was, ‘Be safe. Thank you for letting me know,’” said Moore.

For a moment, Briana’s family wanted to put the disturbing details aside, and remember how she lived, not how she died.

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“What happened to her, it should have never happened,” said Grace Jamison, a friend.

They said one way to remember Briana is to hold your loved ones a little closer.

“Celebrate life, enjoy life. Go out and give somebody a hug that you know. Call somebody you haven’t talked to in a long time, tell them you love them,” said Langford.

Memorial service details are still in the planning stages.

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Suspect’s family helps cover up woman’s murder, Clayton County police say

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