About 300 people gathered with candles and flowers at Devereux Beach Sunday evening to celebrate the brief but bright life of Savanah Gatchell of Marblehead. The 13-year-old was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash on Aug. 19. A 16-year-old is the accused driver.
As the waves crashed nearby, students, families, teachers and faith leaders gathered in a circle. Gatchell’s mother, Christine, and sister Alyssa Otero, were there.
Rev. Lindsay Popperson of Old North Church read a statement from the family.
“We especially want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to the Marblehead community,” Popperson read. “Although Savanah’s life here on earth was short, her light shone bright.”
Popperson invited everyone to take a flower and throw it into the ocean. The shoreline quickly became covered in roses, carnations and more.
Christine Gatchell walked into the waves up to her knees, carrying a handful of flowers. Many people were crying and consoling one another.
Popperson had messages for everyone at the gathering.
“Young people, you are never alone. There are so many people who want to show up — and are showing up — for you,” she said.
Addressing the adults, she added, “It is our job to look out for each other.”
Gatchell was killed Aug. 19 around 2:53 a.m. when the car she was riding in crashed into a stone wall in the area of 352 Atlantic Ave. She was declared dead at the scene, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Savanah “was very loving and kind, and saw the best in everybody,” her mother said last week. “She had a very big heart,” added her sister.
Suspect’s family ‘devastated’
The teen suspect was arraigned in Lynn Juvenile Court on charges of motor vehicle homicide, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, operating under the influence of liquor and two civil motor vehicle infractions.
Police and the District Attorney’s Office are not identifying the suspect because he is a minor. The Current does not publish nonpublic information about juvenile cases.
The suspect’s family is “just devastated and heartbroken” for the Gatchells, according to the 16-year-old’s attorney, James M. Igoe of Somerville.
The accused teen is in a local psychiatric hospital, Igoe told the Current.
“He was treated previously for erratic behavior” and had been released recently, according to the attorney. Igoe did not get more specific about the timeline.
“This is a complete, complete disaster,” Igoe said. “The (suspect’s) family is overwhelmed with grief.”
Igoe also said online videos, allegedly posted by the driver, are not real.
Call for community conversation
At an Aug. 21 School Committee meeting, Superintendent John Robidoux became emotional as he spoke about Gatchell’s death.
“I want to reiterate our sincere condolences to Savanah’s family at this very difficult time,” said a choked-up Robidoux. “Our newly developed district motto is ‘Moving Forward Together.’ This sad situation makes the motto even more pertinent and reminds us that we need to be there for one another and support each other in all aspects of our lives.”
Members of the community, including Board of Health Member Tom McMahon, implored the School Committee to organize a collective town board or committee to address concerns around underage drinking and driving.
“It’s not just a school issue… but it’s a Marblehead culture issue, and it’s one that we always brush under the rug,” McMahon said.
School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner expressed her concerns about the accident and said that she had already spoken to a member of the Select Board about forming a group of school leaders, Rec & Parks staff, police, possibly clergy and others to begin a discussion on how to mitigate the chances of such tragedies recurring.
Schaeffner said she would contact officials and members of the community to begin a discussion and report back to the committee at its next meeting on Sept. 4.
Read Gatchell’s obituary, with funeral plans, HERE.
Bella Travaglini contributed reporting to this article.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
