Sisters become activists after murders of father and uncle

SANDUSKY — Five bullets claimed the life of Kenneth Pearson, 48, in a 2015 Columbus homicide. His twin daughters, Kenae and Kodi Pearson, of Sandusky, were at college in Michigan when their brother called Kodi to break the news. "She came in and said, 'He's gone,'" Kenae Pearson said. "I said 'Who's gone?' And she's like, 'Our dad,' and I didn't believe her." Tragedy struck their family again two years later. Kenae and Kodi were in Sandusky on Aug. 2, 2017, when they, again, got a call from their brother. "(He) said, 'Come to MacArthur Park right now,'" Kenae Pearson said. "He didn't specify, he didn't say anything, he said 'Come right now.'" When they got there, the sisters found their uncle, Anthony Pearson, 46, sitting dead in the driver's seat of his truck on Parkview Boulevard. He had a single bullet wound in his head. In fewer than five years, two of their close relatives were murdered by guns. But the sisters want to use their stories to effect change and help others who have lost loved ones to gun violence. In February 2018, the 24-year-old women founded a nonprofit organization called "2 Brothers, A Pearson Project." "We wanted to not just keep their legacy alive, but we wanted to provide some sort of support for families that have also lost someone due to gun violence," Kodi Pearson said during a segment of Between the Lines, the Register's public affairs program, Wednesday afternoon. The program is available for demand viewing at sanduskyregister.com/btl. Starting 2 Brothers After a period of prayer, the women decided to start a nonprofit. "We were on the phone with each other one day," Kodi Pearson said. "I said 'Hey, I feel like we should start a foundation.' She was like, 'I was thinking the same thing,' and at the same time we said '2 Brothers.'" Both sisters said their organization was influenced by the Brady Campaign, a nonprofit organization that advocates against gun violence. The sisters organized a photoshoot earlier in June, featuring photos of them and other sets of twins they went to Sandusky Schools with on Parkview Boulevard and at Oakland Cemetery, where her father and uncle are interred. "I just wanted to depict unity," Kodi Pearson said. "All it takes is two people to become a unit." Kenae and Kodi Pearson organized a photoshoot for 2 Brothers earlier in June. The women have spoken out against Ohio House Bill 178, which, among other things, would allow people in Ohio to carry concealed firearms without a license. "I think it's irrational," Kodi Pearson said. "With 2 Brothers, we're not anti-guns but we're pro-peace. We're not trying to take away guns or eliminate guns but that bill, I just feel it's dangerous." 'That was my very best friend' The news of their father's murder came on their second day of classes at Washtenaw Community College, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They were on the phone with their father, who many people called "KP," just three hours before his murder. After learning of his death, Kenae said she felt like she was in a "dream." "I began habitually calling his cell phone. Habitually — back-to-back-to-back-to-back — and he wasn't answering," she said. "I thought that somebody was playing a cruel joke and I thought eventually they were going to revive him and he was going to come back and everything was going to be okay. And, no, it didn't happen like that." Both women were "extremely" close to their father, who worked as a welder. "That was my very best friend," Kenae said. The sisters said their father was "hilarious" and "full of life." "He was always the life of the party, he loved to dance, loved music," Kenae said. "Just an all-around great guy." "And we're not just saying that because he was our father," Kodi said. "A guy would like him if he was a complete stranger," Kenae said. Some of the sisters' best memories of their father are from him helping them move to college. Both laughed as they recalled moving furniture into their apartment. "Kodi and I somehow were the ones that ended up moving a freaking sectional up our three-flight stairs and my dad's sitting there watching," Kenae said. The sisters ended up arguing, and Kenae shoved the couch, which made Kodi fall back. "She ran and told my dad," Kenae said. "He was like, 'She didn't do that.'" "The dialogue was just hilarious," Kodi said. Added Kenae: "He was just really silly." Sisters Kenae and Kodi Pearson hold their arms out to show their tattoos of their father, Kenneth Pearson, who was killed in 2015. 'Life goes on' The phrase "life goes on" is tattooed on Kenae's wrist. She got that tattoo along with a portrait of their father's face — Kodi also got a matching tattoo. "It's a constant reminder to keep pushing," Kodi said. Columbus police never made an arrest in Kenneth Pearson's murder. But the family has a suspicion of who the killer is. "I would (ask the killer), 'Why?' and I would say, 'I forgive you,'" Kenae said. Sandusky police made an arrest murder of their uncle, Anthony, shortly after his death. Joel Miles, 32, was sentenced to 49 years to life in prison after a multi-day trial in Erie County. Next steps Both women, who are working their way to medical school, want to use their organization to advocate for gun reform, along with promoting education on guns and mental health. The sisters both said they've struggled with forms of depression, and Kenae said educating students on mental health is vital. "We need to promote it like it's math, we need to promote it like it's science, we need to promote it like it's 1902 history that we learned," she said. Added Kodi: "Just imagine tackling mental health at the age of adolescence so that they can be successful stewards of society." Both women also want to become certified grief counselors and organize support groups. Kenae said she also wants to lecture students. "I'm gonna start with like the elementary schools and pull different children to the side or have seminars how they would have the DARE campaign seminars for the whole school," she said. "That's what I want us to do." Reach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegister Kenae and Kodi Pearson, daughters of the slain Kenneth Pearson and nieces of the slain Anthony Pearson, walk as they talk about their father on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in downtown Sandusky. Kenae and Kodi Pearson show the tattoos they got to honor their father, Kenneth Pearson, who was killed in 2015. Kenae and Kodi Pearson organized a photoshoot for 2 Brothers earlier in June.