Whiting teenager killed in South Holland remembered as loving, determined as family seeks justice: ‘I just don’t want this to be swept up under the rug’
Daysha Cazley, 16, is remembered by her family as a sweet, loving and ambitious young girl whose life was cut short after she was fatally shot earlier this month at a South Holland hotel.
Cazley, of Whiting, Indiana, was pronounced dead March 13 of a gunshot wound to the chest at the Holland Inn and Suites, 1122 E. 162nd St., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Kennisha Laing, 21, of Olympia Fields, was arrested at the scene after what South Holland police Chief Shawn Staples called a “very unfortunate” result of a domestic dispute.
She was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. Her next court date is April 19.
Laing is being represented by a Cook County public defender but the attorneys do not comment on open cases, said Fiona Ortiz, a spokeswoman for the Cook County public defender’s office.
Regina Harris, Cazley’s mother, said Cazley was known for doing whatever she could to help others. Cazley met Laing, who was homeless at the time, near the family’s old home, Harris said, and Cazley would occasionally help Laing buy food or pay for a stay at a hotel.
“I don’t know what the dispute was or what happened or what took place for her to want to murder my daughter. You would never think in a million years that someone would do something like this to a person that had been helping you for almost two years,” Harris said. “I just don’t want this to be swept up under the rug. Justice must be served.”
Carlina McCoy, Cazley’s grandmother, said it has been difficult to process Cazley’s death.
“I’m angry. I’m hurt. I can’t believe that someone would do something to her, to a person that had a beautiful spirit and a loving and caring spirit about others, always trying to help people,” McCoy said. “I want to see the person who did this receive a full punishment.”
Cazley, who had three brothers and two sisters, loved her family and being around family and friends, Harris said. She said what she remembers most about Cazley is joking, laughing and talking with her.
“She knew that not only that I was her mother, but I was her friend too,” Harris said.
Cazley, who attended Gary Middle College, a free public charter high school, but switched to home schooling with Time4Learning, has worked over the summers since she was 13, most recently at a fireworks store and fast food restaurants, her mother said.
Her goal was to open a beauty salon that does hair, make up and nails, Harris said.
“She was just so ambitious to work. She had a lot of goals ahead,” Harris said. “She loved doing hair, make up, and TikToks — just being creative.”
Ariana Patterson, Cazley’s cousin, said she was beautiful, intelligent and determined. Patterson said they were like sisters, born on the same day in the same year.
When they were 7 years old, Patterson said she remembers Cazley had a silly idea: to glue their feet to the floor. Another time, Patterson said they made prank calls to different family members, pretending to be restaurant workers confirming an order, and laughing about their responses.
Patterson said she’ll miss Cazley’s smile, talking to her and laughing together. Cazley’s life was taken too soon, Patterson said, but she wouldn’t want to see her family sad for a long time.
“She wants everyone to be happy and enjoy life, that’s what she was about,” Patterson said.
