ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. -- Family and friends gathered Monday to remember a woman who authorities said was murdered by her boyfriend during a violent domestic violence dispute.
"She was a good mother," said neighbor Bruce Bradley.
Sharetta Day, 38, was stabbed multiple times and killed Saturday evening at her Swansea apartment complex. It happened as police said she was trying to break up with her boyfriend.
Day's son, 9, whose identity has not been publicly released, was also stabbed multiple times, but survived the knife attack.
"All I know is I got her son forever. Whatever he needs, I got him," said Day's cousin.
On Monday, St. Clair State's Attorney Brendan Kelly announced criminal charges against the suspect in the case, Alvin Harris Jr., 38.
The charges include first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery of a child.
Kelly said they are the most serious offenses on his record, which includes a pending electronic harassment charge against another woman.
Harris also faced weapons and domestic battery charges out of St. Louis County in 2006.
"(There's) no indication of violence that would lead you to believe you would find this in this defendant's future," he said.
For grieving loved ones, the charges are a step closer to justice.
But they do little right now to help them understand why Day's relationship had to end with her losing her life.
"Can't no one really understand it. Everything is in God's hands. Everything is in God's hands," Bradley said.
So until they begin to heal from the tragedy, they plan to remember the victims with candles burning brightly at their doorstep.
Bradley said, "Every night I'm going to light these candles. Every night."
Harris remains in the St. Clair County Jail on $1 million bond.
Day's son is improving in a St. Louis hospital. Family members said they'll take over custody once he is released.
