Christy McKissic, 32, and her mother, Renee Metcalf, 62, were found shot to death in their home on Bedouin Avenue in Twentynine Palms, California, after a 911 call placed at 12:03 a.m. on March 24, 2017. Both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds; McKissic was shot twice in the head, and Metcalf sustained gunshot wounds to her leg, back, and head.

The investigation led to the arrest of Rafael Aikens, a Marine stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, about a week after the killings. During trial testimony, Aikens reportedly told a fellow Marine I killed two people, and that statement was presented along with other evidence. The trial began in August 2019, featured testimony from roughly 20 witnesses including McKissic’s daughter (who was 10 at the time of the murders and 13 at trial), and resulted in a conviction and a life sentence without parole; the judge described the killings as purely unadulterated evil and said Aikens showed no remorse.

McKissic and Metcalf are remembered by family and friends as beloved members of their community. Does anyone have memories of Christy or Renee, or information that could shed more light on their last days?