NEWAYGO, Mich (WZZM) -- It's a day they have been waiting for, yet it didn't feel right to celebrate.
The last 26 years of Bob Siders' life have been a nightmare as his daughter's killers walked free. Justice has now been served, and even after all these years, Siders said he never lost faith: he knew her killers would be caught.
"Never. I knew one day, it was going to happen," said Siders.
Less than an hour after the verdict, more than 50 people joined hands around the grave of Shannon Siders and placed roses, said prayers, and released balloons. It signified the mystery was over. She was free. Her killers have been caught and are going to prison.
"It's not a celebration; it's not a funeral. Shannon's had what, three funerals? It's justice. It's the right thing, and there's only two people to blame for this and that's Matt and Paul," Siders said.
From day one, Matthew and Paul Jones were suspects in the case, but they were never able to be pinned down.
The cold case was re-opened when new witnesses came forward, and the brothers' free run for the last 26 years came to an end.
"That's 26 years they shouldn't have had," Siders said. "I've got nothing against their families, I have nothing against their children; but their children shouldn't be here. I didn't get any grandchildren, Shannon never had any children. They should have been in jail," Siders said.
Gone for 26 years, Shannon's presence was felt Friday at her grave. Pointing out the balloons just happened to have floated away to the north, directly toward the courthouse and jail that housed the Jones brothers, "that's the way the wind blows," Bob Siders said.
