Mother asks for closure two years after son’s death
Karen Peterson
Family and friends of Aiden Finely seek justice for him on the two year anniversary of his death. Georgi Mitchell, Aiden’s grandmother, holds a sign above, center. On December 8, 2018, Aiden’s family was told by a highway patrol officer that he was struck and killed by a motorist who didn’t stop or report the incident.
Karen Peterson
People gather to share a message, “Justice for Aiden,” on U.S. Highway 93 in Pablo
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Tricia Finley receives a hug from supporters.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
PABLO — Two years after Aiden Finley, 20, of Pablo, was killed along U.S. Highway 93, near mile marker 53 in Pablo, his mother stood in the spot where he was found and pleaded for justice.
“We still don’t know what happened to him,” Tricia Finley said. “We need answers. Someone has to know something.”
Tricia wasn’t alone on the anniversary of her son’s death. About 30 supporters gathered with her at mile marker 53 to help spread the message and seek justice for Aiden. They held signs with Aiden’s name and the date he was killed, 12-8-18. The signs read: “Someone knows.” One supporter said: “Our message is simple, someone knows what happened. They need to say something.” Vehicles passed the group and honked in support during the two-hour gathering.
Next to the mile marker, a white memorial cross was permanently placed by the American Legion to mark the spot where Aiden was killed in 2018. White crosses line highways and roads across Montana as a way to warn motorists to slow down. Flowers were gathered at the bottom on Aiden’s cross.
“For 75 years, these white crosses have reminded passing motorists of the dangers of the road, as well as the lives, which have been lost on the highways,” Montana American Legions states.
Tricia looked across the highway for a moment before saying it was difficult to think about the early morning hours when her son was killed. She said every day has been difficult without him, but the anniversary brought a lot of anxiety. “We need to know what happened to him,” she said. “We need information. Someone knows something.”
She said she does know that a car hit and killed her son on Saturday, Dec. 8, at around 1 a.m., and the driver didn’t report the incident. Aiden was reported to be beginning to cross the highway when he was stuck in the northbound lane. She said he was hit and left on the road. She wants to know who caused his death.
Tricia said she is frustrated that law enforcement officials involved in the case haven’t found anything. She said she diligently works to make sure they remember her son’s case by continually calling and texting. She said she hasn’t received much response in the past few months. “I would be happy with a one-word response,” she said of her question about new information about her son’s death. “I just want a yes or a no. I need to keep this going. I don’t want them to forget.”
Tricia has also been working to support the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement to bring awareness to the disappearance or murder of Native American women and girls. She said she completely respects the movement and has walked with MMIW supporters across the Flathead Reservation to share the message, but she said she wants people to be aware that men are impacted by the issue as well, including her son.
She wants the public to remember that people who are missing or murdered are not just statistics. “They are people,” she said. “Aiden was a very sweet, kind boy. He was free spirited and loved music and video games.” She added that he was a proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He was also proud of his accomplishments with the Special Olympics and graduating from Polson High School in 2016.
She is asking the public for help: “We still don’t know what happened to my son. Please, if you know, call law enforcement, let us know. He mattered. His life mattered.”
