THURSDAY JUNE 2,2021
On June 2.2021 our lives changed forever. Sarah 26, Carter 5, Ashton 3, and Aubree 2 were murdered by Sarah's boyfriend who had moved in Sarah's home approximately 5 weeks prior. We lost 4 in the matter of minutes. We lost a daughter, Grandchildren, Son, Brother, Sister, Niece, Nephew, Cousin. We never thought we would be living this nightmare, but here we are. THEY were in their home where THEY should've been SAFE... Little did we know the danger that was living in that house with Sarah, Carter, Ashton, and Aubree. Sarah and 3 of her children were brutally murdered by Sarah's boyfriend. The day this happened it rained all day. We the"family" started getting to Sarah's house, the story was all over the news and Facebook that morning. "Breaking News" reels would come on the T.V. with pictures of the outside of her house. Most of us was there on scene by 11am. Her whole street was covered with police cars, EMS, fire trucks and the coroner's office, Detectives, Prosecuting Attorney's Office. We all stood in the rain just waiting and watching as the authorizes went in and out of the house, knowing our family was inside that house ALL GONE! There was nothing any of us could do but wait. We did know who murdered them, Cohen. He had also stolen the neighbor's truck to get away. Indiana State Troopers found him about 100 miles away later that day. I got the call from the detective while we were all still standing outside of Sarah's. THEY GOT HIM!!! I couldn't yell loud enough! We were all happy that in a matter of hours they got him! Our hearts were all still shattered! After hours of waiting, we stood there and watched as our loved ones were bought out in body bags. One after the other. All you could hear were the cries of family, and by now all hope we had if any was lost. We all just stood there... For hours, even after they left with their bodies. I think we were all too scared to leave. I think for some of us, if we left even though they had already taken their bodies... that last task of us leaving made it REAL. None of us could understand why this happened. And why Sarah? why Carter, Ashton, and Aubree. Those babies were no threat to him. There are still so many unanswered questions. And things we may never have answers to. But one thing is for certain, there will never be a reason that warrants their MURDERS!.
Sarah has 2 older children a daughter and and son who now is withoutt their mother and siblings. We get them as much as possible.
WHY START THE SARAH ZENT FOUNDATION
The amount of heartache we all felt that day and everyday since June 2,2021 the days just punch you in the gut! We never want another family to feel this! You should NEVER have to bury your daughter, grandchild, son, mother, sister, niece, nephew, or cousin because of the hate, the rage of a MONSTER! Our families, there were 4 families that lost loved ones. Sarah's was from a HUGE blended family. Sarah parents were never married to each other. But both were married to different people. Carter and Ashton shared a father, Aubree had a different dad. We were 4 families thrown into a nightmare together. We couldn't SAVE Sarah, Carter, Ashton and Aubree. To be honest some of us didn't know there was anything to worry about we didn't know there was any violence in the home. Or that he was EVEN living there the weeks leading up to their murders. He wasn't seen by us.
We tell their story to help others see the dangers of Domestic Violence and for that one person who may need to hear the truth about how DEADLY it really is! That one person who says he would NEVER hurt the kids...
We wonder if Sarah thought that also?
We wonder how terribly afraid Sarah must have been once she realized her 4' 11" frame was no match for his over 6ft frame. When did she know? he was going to kill her! The thoughts she must have been having as a she was locked in her home with a true MONSTER with her 3 small children and no help.
Our foundation is designed to help you get out as safely as possible. we will help with filing Protective Orders/Divorces with the court systems. When we can we will help with short-term housing, food, and gas. Community Resources for needed services.
The days after
We went through days, weeks on autopilot. None of us had ever been through a loss like this. Allen Sarah father and grandfather of Carter, Ashton and Aubree took 8 months off work to only go back and quit a week later, it was to hard for him to be at the place where he recieved the phone call that changed his whole life... Jen and Travis More the grandparents of sweet Aubree took afew weeks off of work. Justin Aubree's dad also had a horrible time. Aubree his only child was gone! He was just so lost! Sarah's 2 oldest children are doing the best they can with dealing with the murders of their mom and siblings. They have their struggles, and a whole Army to help support them.
As the court dates came and went we still had no answers as to WHY?. We never came to terms with that. The murder trial only opened up more questions, and wounds so deep. Nothing could of prepared us from what we had to see and hear during that time. That MONSTER just sat there looking forward, sometimes looking over at us. He was found guilty but refused to come to court to hear his sentence or our victim impact statements. The day he was sentenced we done a butterfly release for Sarah, Carter, ashton and Aubree.