With the one-year anniversary of their son’s disappearance and death approaching, Morton Grove residents Lovely and Mathew Varughese are taking part in planning commemorations, a church memorial service and a solemn walk to the spot where Pravin’s body was found. They hope to both deal with grief and continue their quest to urge police and county officials to bring charges in what they believe to be their son’s murder.
Pravin Varughese, then 19, disappeared last February 12, and his body was found Feb. 18 in a wooded area in downstate Carbondale, where he attended Southern Illinois University in hopes of entering law enforcement one day.
His parents have spent much of the past year frustrated with Carbondale police, who have stated they are officially still investigating, and the Jackson County state’s attorney, who has not brought charges in the case, even though Lovely Varughese has what she believes is incriminating evidence.
The Varugheses have filed lawsuits, authorized an independent autopsy, spoken with U.S. Congressmen and Senators, traveled to Washington, D.C. to ask for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, held a press conference, spoken to the media repeatedly, and participated in an online petition drive which gathered 40,000 signatures demanding justice be pursued.
As the anniversary of Pravin’s death nears, Lovely Varughese says the emotional turmoil is growing stronger.
“As the days are coming closer, I feel something so heavy in my chest,” she said. “I have no energy, and I don’t know what I”m feeling in my stomach.”
They are grateful relatives and friends plan to support them through the anniversary, which has events planned downstate on Friday, Feb. 13, the day they believe Pravin actually died based on the independent autopsy results, and Sunday, Feb. 15 in the Chicago area.
The Feb. 15 memorial service will be held at the Varughese family’s church, Chicago Mar Thoma Church, 240 Potter Road, Des Plaines, from 4 to 6 p.m. Lovely said her family has been intensely involved in the church community, and she and Pravin sang in the choir.
Mar Thoma is a Christian Orthodox denomination which arose in India after St. Thomas is believed to have visited there in A.D. 52. Its base is in the Kerala region in southern India, where Lovely and Mathew Varughese are originally from.
The Des Plaines church dates from the 1970s, after many Indian families from the Kerala region moved to the area.
The pastor, Rev. Daniel Thomas, will offer prayers, and dignitaries such as U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a 9th District Democrat,, former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria, a representative of State Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie and Chicago Alderman Aneya Pewar are expected to speak.
The Archangels of Justice, comprised of Ira Robins and Salvatore Rastrelli, two retired law enforcement officers turned advocates for bereaved families trying to find justice for their loved ones, will also speak.
Two events will take place in the downstate Murphysboro/Carbondale on Feb. 13. The Varugheses and the Archangels of Justice will speak at an 11:30 press conference at the VFW in Murphysboro, which Carbondale media requested. At 2 p.m., the Carbondale police chief said he would lead the Varugheses through the wooded area to the spot where their son was found. Originally, Lovely Varughese said it was to be just her family, but supporters, including some of Pravin’s friends from SIU, expressed a desire to come along.
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Pravin’s former youth chaplain from Mar Thoma Church, Rev. Biju Simon, is flying in from his current assignment in San Francisco in order to be there.
Lovely Varughese says she is dreading the visit to the place where Pravin died, but that she also feels a need to go.
“I really want to touch that place,” she said. “I just want to sit there for a few minutes. That might give me a little relief.
“My son’s soul is there.”