IU student Jill Behrman was abducted and murdered after she left on a solo bike ride 20 years ago. Marilyn Behrman, Jill’s mother, takes comfort in the work she’s doing in Jill’s name.
The Jill Behrman color run is an annual 5k that raises money for the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship and safety events.
One event teaches basic self-defense moves that might help someone get away if they find themselves in a situation similar to Jill’s.
Behrman says she is passionate about personal safety and even attended the self-defense class herself.
The event was free and open to anyone over 18 in the community, and was led by IU sophomore Emily Little, who has her black belt in self-defense.
“I think that it’s super important for everyone to have a basic foundation of self defense knowledge,” Little says. “Pretty much because of the world that we’re living in now. Where safety is unfortunately a little more questionable in some situations.”
She says it’s especially important for young women.
This year the 5k came shortly after it was announced that the man convicted for Jill’s murder was to be released because of mistakes his lawyer made in his trial.
“There were a lot of people who made a point of registering and most showed up it was such a rainy day,” Behrman says.
Behrman knew of the appeal for Myer’s release when it was filed but says it was still a shock when she got the call.
“Just to have all of that come up again,” she says. “And for it to be real not just kind of out there somewhere. That it was actually something to think about again. I probably felt it more that day then I had in a really really long time.”
The Indiana attorney general’s office has since filed an intent to appeal Myers release.
Marilyn Behrman says that thanks to social media it has been easier to stay in touch with friends and family.
“Everybody is so much older,” she says. “Nearly 20 years ago when Jill first disappeared her cousins were relatively young. Even if they were young adults, they were still young and a lot of them didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what to do. And didn’t say a whole lot. I knew that they cared and that they were supportive and that they were worried like I was. But now they’re like much more vocal.”
Behrman says the appeal ordeal may now take months or even years depending on the outcome but with support from family and friends she can wait.
“I have total trust in the justice system,” she says. “Sometimes it’s very slow but whatever happens happens.”
