Neighbour wants to 'turn Summerside purple' in show of support for Josie Glenn's family
Andrew Lupton | CBC News | Posted: November 3, 2017 10:20 PM | Last Updated: November 4, 2017
Neighbour orders 200 purple light bulbs: 'Let's show Josie we're thinking of her.'
Neighbours in a London subdivision grief-stricken by a young woman's murder have plans to "turn Summerside purple" in a porch-light campaign to show support for the family of Josie Glenn, 26.
Katherine McIntyre lives in Summerside, the subdivision in southeast London where police discovered Glenn's body inside a home last Friday.
"We see the police in our neighbourhood and it's a big buzz here," said McIntyre. "But I think we all want to remember that there's a girl on the other side of it, just a young girl that didn't deserve for this to happen."
Josephine "Josie" Glenn was described by friends as a bubbly, kind person who liked to sing.
Oluwatobi "Tobi" Boyde, 25, is charged with second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body in Glenn's death.
Looking for ways to show support for Glenn's family, McIntyre was inspired by the London Abused Women's Centre's Shine The Light campaign in which people use purple lights on building exteriors to show support for women who are victims of violence by men.
Many London buildings have lit their buildings in purple to show support.
McIntyre has ordered 200 purple lights, enough to empty one supplier's stock. She expects they'll arrive next week when she plans to distribute them to neighbours.
"Most people are saying 'Get me two, get me three.' So there is a big response about this. My whole street will have all purple lights."
"They said 'Let's turn Summerside purple, let's show Josie we're thinking of her.' I think that's pretty amazing."
Glenn was reported missing on Oct. 23. The investigation led police to 252 South Leaksdale Circle four days later where they arrested Boyede and found Glenn's body.
Police were draining a large retention pond near the house last week.
Boyede appeared in court earlier today.