Handmade memorial for murdered Fort Myers woman torn down, sawed in half

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A memorial honoring 28-year-old Julia Curvo, found dead along Hough Street in Fort Myers more than two months ago, was dismantled this week.

The family discovered the memorial was gone when they arrived to replace the flowers. Mark Curvo, Julia's father, made the cross by hand and placed it where his daughter was found.

"I made the cross with my own hands, and I wrote what I wrote what was on the cross to Julia, wishing her rest in peace," Curvo said. "It was a very moving experience when we put it all down, when we set the memorial up I read a bible passage to her in front of everybody."

Julia's grandmother visited the memorial weekly, bringing fresh flowers to keep her granddaughter's memory alive in the community. She stopped by on Wednesday to sit with Julia's memory.

By Thursday, everything was gone.

"Everything was gone. There was a piece of one of the crosses left in the ground. And you can see where someone has taken a saw of some kind and sawed the cross in half," Curvo said.

The lot where the memorial stood is currently vacant. Property records show it is locally managed, but the property manager did not respond to requests for comment.

The Curvos knew the memorial's removal was a possibility. Curvo said it could have been a random act or a decision by the property owner.

Julia's killer remains at large. The memorial served as a reminder to the community to help bring answers to the family.

"We were leaving the memorial up in hopes that it would stay up as long as it took to find whoever killed Julia," Curvo said.

The family is left with more questions during an already difficult time. Curvo said he wishes someone had reached out to them instead of removing the memorial without notice.

"We can't figure out why someone wouldn't have just tried to reach out to us, instead of taking everything," Curvo said. "I know it can't compare to the devastation of losing Julia, but it adds to the devastation. And it certainly didn't have to happen."

Inside a vase at the memorial was a forever rose Curvo was looking forward to bringing home once his daughter's murderer is found. The Fort Myers Police Department and Crimestoppers are looking into the memorial's removal.