INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - She lost her son in a brutal murder two-and-a-half years ago and now she's found a way to forgive and heal.
Misty Kuneman, who is from Rushville, came to Indianapolis Thursday to spread hope and kindness. She brought 50 handmade crosses, each adorned with a silk flower, and lined them up on the south side of Monument Circle, each with an attached note that reads, "Recycled Love. Together we can make a difference. Be bold and be kind today."
"It's a great way to give my son a better legacy than he was just murdered," Misty said. "It's my way of letting my son live on."
Justin Crowder, 19, and his two roommates, Dominique Miller and Jordan Wright, both 25, were killed during a robbery at their Indianapolis apartment in July 2017.
One of the five killers wrote a "rap song" describing the crime, which helped convict him.
Misty said at one point she realized, "Instead of feeding the negativity...yes, my son was murdered. Yes, it was the hardest thing ever, but instead of putting out more anger and hatred in the world, how can I do the smallest thing to create a ripple effect of kindness?"
She found a way through regular visits to the cemetery where Justin is buried. She kept bringing bouquets of silk flowers and then noticing the old, faded ones headed for the trash, asked if she could have them.
She took them home, washed, dried and repainted them. In the meantime, her husband, who works in carpentry, brought home scrap wood and started making crosses.
One thing led to another and, as Misty said, "God just led me to do it. I just started giving them out," giving the "hope flowers" to people who needed a lift, like she did.
She gave them to families who had suffered a terrible loss and/or those struggling with addiction. Thursday afternoon, she offered them to anyone wanting one.
Barbara Chelminiak, who picked out a cross, said, "I'm going to give it to someone at the office whose son is dealing with addiction, so it turns this kindness into someone else's joy hopefully."
Two other women also took crosses. One said, "I think they're absolutely beautiful and I think what she's doing is beautiful as well."
The other added, "Her story and testimony, I think it gives a lot of hope and encouragement to others, so this is nice."
Misty said since she began making hope flowers nine months ago, she and her husband have given away roughly 2,000 with plans to give away many more.
As for what her son Justin would say?
"My son was so big on acts of kindness himself. He was happy-go-lucky kid and I think he would be super proud of me if he'd see me right now," Misty smiled.