Penny Dees never stopped seeking justice for her daughter Quiana Dees

On May 1, 1992, 12-year-old Quiana Dees snuck out of the house to go a friend’s party against her mother Penny Dees wishes.

Penny Dees worst nightmare

The next day Ms. Dees worst nightmare came true. Quiana was found unconscious in a vacant lot on Washington Avenue on the border of Neptune and Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Suffering from a gun shot wound to head, Quiana was transported to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.

Catching a killer

The murder rocked the Asbury Park and surrounding communities. Questions loomed, wondering who would commit a heinous act against a 12-year-old.

Details were grim and with the code of silence, very few people were talking.

Penny Dees laid her daughter to rest with few very answers and no suspect arrested.

A mother moved into action

While authorities worked around the clock to find Quiana’s killer, Penny Dees knew she could not remain quiet.

The fervent mother was adamant to bring her daughter’s killer to justice.

Quiana Dees Stop The Violence march

She started this plight by leading a march every first Saturday in May, around the same time Quiana was found clinging to life.

Quiana Dees March 2017, (Photo: Keith Covin, Unheard Voices Magazine)

Years would go by without any answers but Mrs. Dees never gave up her fight for justice.

During the 25th year of the annual “Stop The Violence Quiana Dees March”, in an interview with Unheard Voices, Penny Dees said she felt they were getting closer

“I feel this might be our last march … a victory march”, she said.

Quiana Dees

Dees wasn’t certain. It was something she simply proclaimed. But her eyes told the story well: the plight of a mother seeking justice and she felt in her soul they were getting closer.

The 26th year came and once again Penny Dees marched for justice for her daughter.

As long as she was still standing, Mrs. Dees was ready for the 27th march, the 28th march, and so on until her daughter’s killer(s) were brought to justice.

Arrest in connection to Quiana Dees mother

Seven months after this years march, Penny Dees would finally hear the words she’s been steadfastly marching for.

After being called into the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s satellite office in Asbury Park, authorities told the Dees family they had finally made an arrest for the murder of Quiana.

Authorities announced they arrested a 40-year-old woman,originally from Asbury Park, who resided in Henderson, North Carolina before the arrest.

The woman, who was just 13 years old at the time of the murder, was charged with aggravated manslaughter. Because of her age during the crime, authorities did not release her name.

However, an investigation by APP.com alleges the woman to be Kishia Jones. In a 2008 interview with the Asbury Park Press, Jones allegedly admitted to killing Quiana Dees, which she later recanted.

Penny Dees on moving forward

Penny Dees said she has forgiven her daughter’s killer and now wants to move forward.

She knows this road won’t be the end as the investigation will continue to unfold, but she wants to make certain this year will be one of celebration.

Instead of a ‘Justice For Quiana Dees’ march in May, Penny Dees says she plans to have a victory march.

Just like the one she proclaimed several years ago.

But now, for a mother who never gave up her fight, it has come to fruition.

The founder of Unheard Voices speaks to Penny Dees about the arrest :