TRAVERSE CITY - The daughter of a Grand Traverse County woman, who police say was murdered nearly 36 years ago, is speaking out about the recent arrest made in her mother’s case.
“There was something God was telling me that this is the time that you’re going to find out.”
Lisa Haney, daughter if Linda Meteer, was 17 at the time of her mother’s death. More than 3 decades later, Steven Koon, from Leelanau County, was arrested and arraigned last week.
“She actually was a beautiful person. Everybody loved her. And if they thought. Linda. Oh, we just love her. The family. It doesn’t matter. Didn’t matter who she came in contact with, ”shares Haney, “She just was like a magnet. People just gravitated towards her because of her personality.”
Lisa Haney is 1 of Linda Meteer’s 5 children. Since the arrest of 63-year-old Steven Koon, she is now re-living the feelings she and her family felt when they initially found out their mother was murdered in 1989.
“An arrest is an arrest. You know, that’s huge. But then again, it brought all those emotions just full flooded, you know, to then talk into my family and everything. And they feel the same at this kind of bring it all back into the forefront. Like it just happened all over again.”
The family is hoping that justice is carried out quickly.
“We’re just hoping for a short trial. I mean, really, it’s real unrealistic, probably to think that. But we’ve been 36 years, of not knowing. And, now we do know. And years of a trial which we are preparing ourselves for could possibly happen. Nothing’s going to bring her back. No reason why is ever going to be satisfactory because to take somebody’s life in that capacity. There’s just no excuse,” says Haney,” I don’t care what the reason is. You did a heinous thing to somebody, and you should be in prison for the rest of your life. Just plain and simple as this."
Haney also talked about the possibility of closure after years of uncertainty.
“I think it’s going to help in the healing process for all of us, our family, loved ones, friends and stuff like that. Closure. I’m sorry, but there’s not going to be closure. It’s my mother. It’s a hole that will never be mended.”
Haney also has a message for what she would say to her mother now.
“They didn’t stop fighting for her. That I miss her. My family misses her. And hopefully, we’ll get justice. 100% justice for her.”
Koon is expected to be in court again on March 4.