Rest in peace young angel Michelle.

I remember hearing the tragic story when I was 12 living in N. Highlands. This tragedy should have never occurred! Gone way too soon.

Happy early birthday sweet child.

Dear Sweet Angel Michelle
I suppose that we feel you can see or sense our messages somehow. If I could bring your mama and papa comfort right now I would. They suffer that familiar emptiness some of us also know . How it affects them. 
I hope somehow they can bring the light you had for them out in each other and for each other.
They deserve to live their best lives for you. I hope they know you would want that.
If they see this I hope they know the empty hole in them is not so dark, it is the remembrance of your touch, your smile and all that you were and that beauty should always be embraced. It is what’s left until you meet again ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hi Michelle,

Just stopping by to say hi. I hope your family is finding peace. The world lost a bright light the day you left us. RIP, sweet angel....You are never forgotten.....xoxoxoxo

Hi honey just me momma ! Honey I’m missing you so much don’t know what to do only thing that keeps my going are my grandkids and your sister/brother your dad is really bad don’t know what to do or say to him I’m so over his shit it’s crazy watch over him he’s not happy at all will had to just talk to you come see me I ask you every night but you don’t come I need to hold you please Michelle I need you

I have thought of your bright smile over the years and the sad day you left this world, leaving your kindness as a sweet memory. You could have been my daughter,niece, neighbor or friend but I only knew you from your smile in the newspaper. 
Your life has not been defined by that story that ended your life but by all those impacted (perhaps unknowingly) by the changes that took place to help ensure it never happens again. We are more vigilant because of you. 
Rest in peace sweet child. You are kept in our thoughts and prayers.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Michelle….you’re missed and never forgotten ❤️

Will baby girl another year without you it still hurts my heart . You’re going to be an auntie again we had Presley and Hallie and we ur last one Prea Jade your sister will have 3 girls and your brother has one boy and a girl . God I wish was still here it’s crazy all the shit that is going on I really you was here to talk to . The only thing keeps me going are you sister and brother and my grandkids and there spouses will baby girl love you forever in my heart take care of grandma and grandpa give them a big hug and Matthew

Happy heavenly Birthday pretty girl.

Hi honey I still can’t believe you’re gone . It been 25 years that’s so crazy it been that long that o haven’t seen you or hugged you or talked to you Michelle you have 4 beautiful nieces and one nephew and another one on the way Peyton cares you name Peyton Michelle she reminds me so much of you her eyes her personality and jesters I look at you all over again and you nieces and nephew know who you are to them and they talk about you they miss there auntie I know they are heaven sent keep a eye on them and honey you are always remembered love you so much love your momma never forgotten

Happy Heavenly Birthday ♥️Your memory lives on and you are not forgotten. May this bring peace to your family that you’re still thought of. Till we see you again, RIP beautiful ♥️

Happy Heavenly Birthday pretty girl! You are missed everyday.

Happy Early Birthday, Michelle. You have been on my mind a lot recently and I’m glad I found this page. You should be here. I remember when we were at CB together. You were the older, cool and gorgeous girl but you ALWAYS smiled and said hi to me. Always. You were special and left an impact on people who only had casual encounters with you. I hope you family is as well as can be. Lots and peace and love to you, your memories and your family.

Dear Michelle, I have carried your face and story with me for 25 years. I was there. I saw you.
I'm so sorry. God bless you. I remember. I saw you. I'm sorry. I still cry, like it was still that day.

My parents were friends with the Montoya's. We used to visit them from time to time. Melvin & Doris Stewart and I'm their daughter Diane. Michelle was alot younger than me but I remember when this happened. A coworker recently brought this up. We work with JSO's on Probation. I do this to try to prevent & protect children from such violence and senseless pain. I'm so sorry Michelle had to go through this. My heart is sad. Lord keep her in your loving arms for eternity.
Diane S.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.you are being missed by all.I heard about the story on the news when I was living in California.you are a beautiful woman.your family is missing you so much

I didn’t know Michelle very well, but I shared a class with her when she was a sophomore, and I still had an old test she’d corrected when I heard about what happened. Even knowing her as casually as I did, I mourned the loss of a lovely, vibrant young woman whom I can only remember smiling or laughing. I still think of her from time to time, and wish peace for all who knew and loved her.

Thinking of you today and always... love and prayers for you and your fam♥️

Happy birthday pretty girl! I hope heaven celebrates your life to the fullest. You’ll live on forever in our hearts and memories. So many lessons are embedded in us because of your tragic death. My love and prayers for you and your family always...

Happy Birthday Michelle!! Even though I was a baby when this happened not a day goes by that I dont think about the stories my mom told me about how she would come home from work and see you sleeping on the couch at papa Richard's house, she told me you were always over at Papa Richard's house, or the time you and my mom and papa Richard went to the store and he let you pick out a gift and you and her took a picture with Santa (my mom still has that picture up). You are deeply missed and deeply loved.

Happy Birthday! Another year without you. You are truly missed.

Michelle came to mind today. I went to high school with her. She was a senior when I was a freshman. I stayed after school for math help that last day. It could have been me. That thought haunts me all the time. I pray for peace for your family and I know you have peace now, Michelle. Thank you for saying hi to me today.

I did not personally know you but i heard about what happened i am truly sorry no one deserves that ever rest in peace

This is a message for the family. I am the spouse of one of the teacher's at Rio Linda, and my husband told me what happened to Michelle a couple months ago, and I have had several dreams about that day since then; So much so, that I woke up after having the latest one, and wrote a poem about what I remembered in the dream. I hope that this isn't something that might offend anyone, my intention posting this is simply to let the family know that people are still moved by what happened to Michelle, and people still talk about it because it mattered. That being said, your grief can't be quantified, but hopefully your faith is strong, and if it's not, mine is, and I will pray for you to have some healing from this tragic and unfair event. The part about the teacher is only a metaphor for how this must have caused that woman an irrevocable toll. Again the poem is by no means meant to be factual, the words flowed from a dream I'd just dreamed about a girl I didn't have the pleasure of knowing.  Respectfully, E. Vernon


"Heaven's Vault"

Started the day late
Sun was shining
No silver lining
Summer was coming
Oh, she couldn’t wait!
But on that day...
She had a class to catch
She had time to stretch
A chance to ruminate
Maybe create a secret summer list
A dream in the day
Watching the buses roll away
She had to miss
No final farewell
No goodbye kiss

Out in the back
He was building a stack
From the old lemon tree
He sure had the knack
A shadow in his shadow
So that no one would see
Roots all the way to West Point
Mississippi...not the other joint
Purple skin gleamed in the sun
And in a dream I scream
"Run, girl...Run!"
But we all know by now
A bell the devil rung
He didn't have to do it
Still he let the feeling come

In the blink of an eye
All the little urgent worries die
And the angel hurries down from the clouds
...unannounced
Takes your treasure with her to the sky
Never turns around
Never tells you why

I can still hear the angel singing the blues
The treasure locked in Heaven's vault
It was never her fault
He hummed along like a substitute teacher
Spoke like a preacher as he stared at her shoes
Winsome was her mind and naïve to his kind
She looked at him with eyes so blind
Said, "I hope you don't mind, but I need a ride home"
As she punched in the numbers on the dirty yellow phone
He heard every word
"Thanks. OK...I'll see you soon Dad"
Enjoy your day, and thank you sir,
"Oh sure, for sure...
You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever had."


An evil brush darkens walls of cheer
Eyes upon him, he sensed the fear
And the angel carried away into thin air
Somebody’s baby, somebody’s treasure
Without a word or care
Nobody saw the light nor saw it disappear
But she was off to Heaven
These are the moments when God is unfair

A teacher tries to make sense of it all
She tells herself she was following protocol
She always obeyed the rules
Says no she really can't, but there's a phone
out with the tools...
These weren't her rules, they were the school's
Plays it back in her mind for the thousandth time
And after her tenure some 25 years
The apple had rotted on a dusty desk
A hole in her soul carved from rusted shears
And as always did the truth show itself
Too little too late, no way now to help

Innocence slain and pain a flash flood
One white KED spotted with blood
Blue and yellow flashing lights
Rio Linda flies drown in red
Two weeks from Graduation, alas, her Mother walked instead
A million-mile walk to the freshly painted stage
Around the bleachers, past the compassionate teachers
She kept inside her growing rage
A diploma well earned, Futility learned
But that brave walk brought honor to her daughter's name
And so began the long decent
Of never being the same
The consequence of total deceit
The last memory of what she loved the most
Now a ghost that haunts her every heartbeat

Her daddy told her “meet me out front”
He was stopping at Mc Donalds first
Was there something that she’d want?
Nothing compares to a Father's heart
When it's barely beating from being burst
He waited outside and cried and cried
for two solid days
Finally giving it all to God and forgiving evil ways
He's drowned a thousand times
In the angry ocean tides raging behind his tired eyes
He walked to the garage when he got home
and pulled the ribbon from the hood of her surprise
And asked God to take good care of her
Until he could be around
And told her that he always loved her
As he hugged her cap and gown.

I didn’t know her but she’s very pretty and I’m going to the same Hugh school she went to and I’m scared that it might happen to other people to but I’m very sad and really sorry for your loss ❤️

Truly missed. I never met you but feel that I know you. We were the same age and in a different city. forever in our hearts.

Happy birthday beauty

Happy Birthday Michelle ♥️

Well today I received a email it's Michelle's birthday! I always remember you because we are the same age. I remember hearing about you when I was in high school and we shared a favorite music group. You will forever be remembered in our hearts!

Thinking of you Michelle. You are greatly missed.

I was talking about you today, to someone who too lost before graduation, so I wanted to see your beautiful face, I met you when you were about 2 or 3 years old. Your Mother Pam, is a dear friend of mine. Then I saw you have a birthday the day after mine, April 23, Me, April 22, Happy Birthday to you Angel Michelle...........I keep you and your family always in prayer and in my Heart. Forever a Friend Jeannie Chacon

This was a dark period in our lives when we heard about Michelle. I did not know her. But she attended Christian Brothers with my daughter for about a year. Krystal remembered her as beautiful, kindhearted and an all-around pleasant young woman. I’m 63 years old now and some things I don’t forget. This is one of those times. RIP little angel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN MICHELLE I HOPE YOUR DANCING UP THERE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING HER 39TH WASN'T TOGETHER I MISS YOU SO MUCH REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE BEST FREINDS I HAD IN HIGHSCHOOL WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CELEBRATE ING OUR BIRTHDAY S TOGETHER LOVE YOU MY FREIND FOREVER IN MY HEART RIP SWEET FREIND LOVE ANGELIQUE THOMPSON

I always remember you. I never knew you but we were the same age when this happened to you. You always happen to pop into my mind.

I currently go to riolinda and am graduating this year ive read your story over and over you went to school with my older brother and you guys dated for a while his name was cliff he told me about u and how u died also u went to school with my brother robert but he went by bobby i was suprised when my brother mentioned you guys were dating at one point im so sorry for your familys loss my brother now isnt in good shape iether hes in and out of prison and everytime i bring u up he tells me a story and how he had this crush on you for some time im so sorry for your loss mrs pam

Forever in our hearts ♥️ The Abram family.

20 years have passed and it seems like yesterday you were setting me up for a spike in gym class... and chasing down a bad pass even though you had no chance to save it... that smile on your face as you ran your butt off... and that giggle when I told you that were crazy... "I know..." you said.

Just thought I'd leave a memory that I know whoever reads this will relate to and it will bring a smile to their face.

Forever in our hearts...

This is a message to Michelle's family. I am the make up artist that did Michelle's make up for her senior portraits. I think of her often when I have other girls the same age. She was such a sweet happy girl. Pam was a proud elated mother. I've since become a mother myself and can't imagine the gravity of your loss. Good for you for fighting to get the laws changed. I pray for peace in your family and may you feel Michelle's presence and love with you daily.

This is a message to Michelle's family. I am the make up artist that did Michelle's make up for her senior portraits. I think of her often when I have other girls the same age. She was such a sweet happy girl. Pam was a proud elated mother. I've since become a mother myself and can't imagine the gravity of your loss. Good for you for fighting to get the laws changed. I pray for peace in your family and may you feel Michelle's presence and love with you daily.

Hey i dont know you but i previously go to the school you were murderd at and when i heard about the story it hit me real hard i cant imagine how your mother / family must have felt u were a very beautiful bright young lady loved by many im sorry you had to go out that way my condolences to your family

You are most definitely remembered . I was just telling my daughter about you

You will always be missed, and your story told and hopefully the memorial at the school is still in one piece. Peaceful thoughts to your family

Remembering you today as I do often. You didn't die in vain, I make it a point to let everyone know your story and the dangers of strangers and my daughters schools hear about your story making sure they know who they are hiring. ❤️ Rest easy beautiful girl! Give my Heidi loves for me

I remember hearing this sad story on the news.i lived in Sacramento when I heard about this sad story about the murder of Michelle Montoya. She is deeply missed by all

To the family of Ms. Michelle Montoya,

Michelle and our daughter attended CB at the same time. Your daughter was so beautiful and kind. Our hearts are with you in your time of sorrow. Our deepest Sympathy.

Sincerely,
The Abram Family

Happy Birthday Michelle. You are still in my heart. If only I had got that position you would still be alive today....God Bless your family forever.

You are still thought of 19 years later, Michelle; how much things have changed since then. You are thought of often and I enjoyed being one of your classmates at Christian Brothers. RIP and sending love to you and your family. May your memory always live on. xoxoxoxoxoxo

Michelle-

I left Rio Linda at the end of my 7th grade year. I never got to meet you in person but many of my close friends knew you and still speak of you often. I think of you often and pray you are at rest.

I graduated from Rio Linda High School in 1977. I think of you Michelle Montoya very often. I am very close to Jesus Christ and there you are right next to him and that is reassuring to all the people that love and miss you. I see bright beautiful colors when I think of you Michelle. God Bless you Pam you have been through so much and I wish this had never happened to you and your family. Stay strong and know there are many of us in 2016 that still mourn your daughter even though we did not know her we feel her spirit and see her beauty through God. You are never alone she is right next to you........Always