Edward Franco
•8/1/2026
More than 100 people gathered in Lehigh Acres for a candlelit vigil to honor the life of 15-year-old Matthew St. Marc, who was killed on Monday. Hugs lasted a little longer, prayers filled the air, and friends shared memories of a young man they said always had a smile on his face. "He was such a beautiful soul. He was always smiling," said one young friend. Candles lit the crowd as family and friends came together to celebrate Matthew’s life. One by one, people spoke about the impact the teenager had on their lives. "His life had value. His dreams had value. His future had value. And because of that, his memory deserves more than tears," said a church member. Matthew’s family shared that he had plans to join the military when he turned 18 and later become a firefighter, following in the footsteps of his uncle. His sister, Ranyah, shared a memory of Matthew’s excitement when he made the Riverdale Pop Warner football team. "He was so excited. I remember when he texted me, 'Ranyah, I got on the team.' He was so happy," she said. A teacher reflected on Matthew’s character, saying, "He was a respectful young man. He had dreams and spoke about his dreams and what he would be doing for the following school year." As memories were shared, balloons rose into the night sky. "We owe it to that family to say what needs to be said, to report what needs to be reported so we can find the people who are responsible for his death," said a representative from the NAACP. The family and community hope someone will come forward with information to help investigators bring them the answers and justice they are waiting for. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
