BELTON — Parents who lost their daughter to a drunk driving accident joined local officials at 1 p.m. Tuesday to dedicate a renovated playroom designed to offer a safe haven for children who have experienced a tragedy or been a victim of a crime.
The new playroom has a special connection for Nancy Pratt and her family after the loss of her daughter, Brianne Pratt.
The late Brianne Pratt’s mother, Nancy Pratt, decorated the playroom dedicated to her daughter who was killed in a drunk driving incident.
“Something pushed me into that room; the Holy Spirit or maybe Brianne was telling me I had to do this. I couldn’t stop thinking about what that room could do for the children,” Nancy Pratt said. “A safe and comfortable space for children.”
Dedication of the playroom was part of a series of events to recognize victims and victims rights hosted by the National Crime Victims Coalition. The events are meant to raise awareness of National Crime Victim’s Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
“It is important for all of us to remember last week and month for the victims and children,” Bell County Sheriff Bill Cooke said. “The whole program is centered around the victims. As public servants, we are all proud of this.”
Bell County Sheriff Bill Cooke shares a message in support of crime victims.
Caroline Reed/ Telegram
The Bell County Sheriff’s Office Victims Services office dedicated the renovated children’s playroom to Brianne Pratt, who was a victim of a drunk driving accident in December 2013 at the age of 20.
Nancy Pratt and her husband, Jeff Pratt, joined the celebration at the Victim Services celebration at the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, 113 W. Central Ave., on the first floor of the building.
Brianne Pratt of Salado was killed 11 years ago after 24-year-old Michael Alexander Soto allegedly drunkenly crossed traffic lanes at 1900 FM 1670.
Brianne would have been 31 this year.
Alan Dillard, chaplain for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, prayed over the room before it opened.
“We thank you Lord for this room being dedicated today to comfort the little ones,” Dillard prayed. “We pray that through your benevolence they would find comfort, peace, and recovery from the tragic events that occur in their lives.”
Kylie Brooks, grant manager for Bell County, was in attendance.
She is working on a grant to get a full-time Bell County crime victim’s liaison and one part-time liaison, that will go into effect Sept. 1.
Corey Powell, lead investigator for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, spoke of what a difference it would make.
“As the city grows, it becomes no longer a want but a need. I wish we didn’t need a room for these babies. I wish the namesake for this room that event had never happened, but the world is filled with evil,” Powell said.
Area Victim Services offices are united by the National Crime Victims Coalition, a group of women dedicated to helping the victims of violent crimes.
“At the coalition we piggy back off each police department. If I need something I don’t have it is the easiest phone call. It’s a spider web of resources and information. We all contribute with each other and it’s beneficial to everyone,” said Erica Lozano, Healthy Homes Coordinator and violent crime victim’s advocate in Harker Heights.
“It is so rewarding, I love my job. Its heavy, but I love being able to help and having the resources to make a difference,” Lozano said. “A lot of times that is when victims fall through the cracks, they don’t know who to reach out to so when we identify a victim, we will reach out to them and make sure they are aware of who we are and how we can help.”
“Victims often want to be connected with their investigator, but there are only so many hours in the day. So a community liaison would be that bridge between victims and law enforcement,” Powell said.
Through the help of her community and others, Nancy Pratt was able to decorate and supply the room so other families who endure life’s tragic events will have a safe and comforting place to heal.
Her husband, Jeff, described the room as resembling a janitor’s closet before his wife’s loving touch.
“I made a few calls and the Salado community stepped up,” Nancy Pratt said. “One of the dentist offices sent over oral hygiene supplies; Holiday Inn and Days Inn donated boxes of shampoos, soaps, conditioner, and lotion; several women with the Salado Village Artists donated homemade blankets, toys and undergarments; Home Depot in Killeen donated a chair that folds out into a bed in case any child needs rest or to lie down. I was on a roll, even IKEA donated the toy kitchen set.”
Nancy and Jeff Pratt had some help from their grandson, whether he knows it or not.
“Unknowingly, Liam has donated a lot of his toys and clothes,” Stephanie Pappan, daughter-in-law to Nancy said. “It just worked out, we were cleaning and Liam is always getting new toys and the old ones just sit around so I started packing them up without him noticing, we will leave the ones he doesn’t notice are missing.”
Liam Pappan is the first to play in the children’s playroom dedicated to his late aunt, Brianne Pratt.
Caroline Reed/Telegram
Victim Services is on-call 24/7 every day of the year, understanding crime and violence affects individuals and families in many ways.
In order to meet those needs, they offer support and numerous types of services, resources/referrals, and information including resources, referrals, safety planning and danger assessments, assistance applying for victims compensation, counseling, and case management.
“This National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we commit to empowering every child in America to lead a fulfilling life of dignity and love — and we pledge to bring every abuser, predator, and evil doer who threatens the health and safety of our children to swift justice,” President Donald Trump stated in his National Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation. “As citizens, each of us is entrusted with the sacred responsibility of caring for the most vulnerable among us, especially children uniquely at risk of trauma and abuse.”
