MARLINTON, W.Va. — Family members of a Pocahontas County mother who was fatally shot last week say her smile would “light up a room.”
“She was taken at 21, just weeks before her 22nd birthday,” Ashley Wilt-Smith told MetroNews.
Wilt-Smith’s father is the cousin of Camie Rider, of Marlinton, who State Police said was shot in the head allegedly by her ex-boyfriend Mason Walker, 23, of Hillsboro, during a domestic dispute.
The shooting happened at the Little General Store in Marlinton on Feb. 12.
“Everyone is just broken and confused on why. Why did this have to happen especially to someone so young, sweet and positive?” Wilt-Smith said.
The family is now raising awareness for domestic violence and asking for donations to help pay for funeral expenses through a GoFundMe page. They’re also concerned about the custody of Rider’s two-year-old son Camden.
“Having the funds to be able to have a funeral and to cover whatever Camden may need as far as his daily living situation and where he’s going to end up. I mean, he’s lost both his parents in one day,” Wilt-Smith said.
Camden was also the son of Walker who is charged with first degree murder. Walker is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bail.
Wilt-Smith said Rider and Walker had a history with domestic violence, especially over their son.
“They had a lot of domestic issues and she had left him. We believe that escalated things because he wasn’t okay with not having Camden,” she said.
Rider was known for standing up for herself in tough situations, Wilt-Smith said.
“She was admired for not being afraid to call people out and being full of love” she said.
Rider grew up in Marlinton and worked at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. In her free time, she enjoyed spending time with her son, her family and her friends.
“She was constantly looking out for people. She lit up anytime she talked about her boy, her family and friends. She was a true friend to anyone that she met,” Wilt-Smith said.
The family is selling T-shirts with Rider’s name on the purple domestic violence ribbon in her honor.
A funeral has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24 at VanReenen Funeral Home in Marlinton. The wake will be at 12 p.m. with a service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery.