Defending His Innocence

According to his half-sister, Theresa Forbes, she believes that Chanel is a victim of racism in this case. She even said, “I think the cops framed him because he’s a black person. They couldn’t find anyone else to pin this on so they pinned it on my brother. My family, we are God-fearing people. The Bible tells us ‘Do not kill – we do not kill.’ Although Chanel confessed to the murder of Karina, his legal team was not present during the time of his confession, and they are saying that there is a possibility that he was pressured into confessing. Regardless, he will go to trial on July 13 to face charges of first-degree murder.

In Memoriam

Philip Vetrano, who is a retired New York firefighter, was supported by his fellow peers as they “lined up outside the entrance as Karina’s casket was carried into the church,” according to The New York Daily News. Reports show that, aside from her closest family and friends, hundreds of people attended her funeral. Philip described his daughter in these words, “She was so full of life, light, beauty and power. Just like a shooting star burns out at its greatest point, so did Karina.”