Amanda Craft’s oldest son has been missing for nearly a year, and the family has spent days searching for Trentin Isaac, who is 16 years old.
“It was the sickest feeling kicking leaves over, hoping my son wasn’t laying underneath of them,” Craft remembered.
However, the search came to an end on November 15, when his body was discovered in Harrison County, more than 80 miles from his Mansfield home.
“His body was burned, and they refused to let me see him because of his appearance and odor. “I never had the opportunity to truly say goodbye,” Craft said.
Since then, the family has faced numerous unanswered questions.
“Police have told me they have evidence; I’m not sure what evidence because they don’t share it with us. However, our detective has been amazing in terms of returning my calls, as has the detective in Harrison County. “I just feel like it’s very timid here, and if they don’t have a slam dunk case, they won’t take it to the grand jury,” Craft explained.
Mansfield Police say the case is complicated because it spans two counties.
However, they do have people of interest, and prosecutors in both counties are investigating potential charges.
However, the family refused to wait for justice. Michelle Isaac wanted to do more for her nephew and bring closure to her family, so she began organizing rallies.
“It gave us an outlet and a chance to come together and lean on one another,” Isaac told me.
A chance to honor Trentin, who was said to be the best big brother, always laughing and known as the light in his mother’s life.
“He was so funny, he could make a stale-faced person smile and laugh in a second and he was amazing,” according to Craft.
They eventually invited other Mansfield families seeking justice, including Brandi Matthews, whose son, Joey Matthews, was shot seven times.
“Police say they’ll contact us if there’s anything in the case that we need to know, and that I call too often. “I don’t understand because I am a mother and all I want to know is what happened to my child,” Matthews said.
Matthews says she has been discouraged in recent years.
“It’s discouraging that so many families want the same thing. You can’t relax or sleep well. “These are our children and teenage babies, and we will never get them back,” Matthews said.
The demand for answers has grown over time, as has the level of support.
Twelve photographs of Mansfield victims cover Isaac’s dining room table, and their families find comfort in one another.
“It gives me peace and comfort to know that I’m not alone in this,” said Brittany Osterland.
Osterland recalls the day she discovered her sister Kayla Osterland’s lifeless body.
“I was furious, because how could anyone treat her like that? “She was 75% decomposed,” Osterland explained.
The Richland County Coroner ruled the cause of death undetermined, and Osterland has had a difficult few years waiting for answers.
“We were in a ride-or-die situation, and I just want to know what happened. “I can’t put into words what that would mean to me,” Osterland said.
But, in the meantime, the families intend to continue fighting. On November 15, they will rally for justice in Mansfield.
“I believe it would bring me some peace to know that someone has faced the consequences of what they did to my son. He deserves that, and I’ll never get my son back; the only thing I can get for him is justice, which I seek,” Craft stated.
Isaac created a memorial page for Mansfield murder victims in the hopes of raising awareness and providing families with closure.
