Faith Sinclair's mother speaks out

SHARON HILL, Pa. - August 12, 2008 As police work to close in on a suspect, the victim's mother for the first time met with reporters saying she forgives the person or persons responsible and made a gut-wrenching appeal for them to do the right thing and turn themselves in.

At the scene where a hit and run driver took her 16-year-old daughter's life, Kimberly Ferrell wanted people to know who Faith Sinclair was. "Look at the pictures, try and find one without a smile; she was our heart. She was everything wonderful and good about our family," Kimberly said.

Faith, an honor student at Ridley High who wanted to be a special needs teacher, was killed back on August 3 at the intersection of Chester Pike and Laurel Road.

Police would later find the car, a black Mercedes Benz hidden in a garage on State Road. In Upper Darby, police say it had damage consistent with the accident, but they do not know who was driving it.

They identified the owner, 27-year-old Lemuel Payne Jr. as a person of interest, but he hired a lawyer and has so far declined to speak with police.

Authorities also believe a passenger may have been in the car, but so far no one has come forward.

Today, Kimberly Ferrell was appealing to the driver.

"I know you have a heart, I know you have conscience, I know you do, God gives it to us all, some just bigger than others," Kimberly said.

Faith Sinclair was laid to rest Friday. The Citizens Crime Commission has posted a $10,000 reward for information in the case.

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