CASPER — They came nearly 4,000 strong and filled the parking lots downtown Thursday night to honor the memory of a local 14-year-old who gave his life defending another.
Many wore blue, some came with families, others with friends. They filled David Street Station, where there was a stage with photos of the hero teen, Bobby Maher, along with flowers, balloons, and an opportunity to reflect on a life taken from the community years before his time.
Maher was stabbed to death Sunday at the Eastridge Mall, allegedly by a pair of 15-year-olds who were harassing Maher’s girlfriend and another girl.
DC Martinez, a sports director at the Casper YMCA and youth pastor in Mills, read a message from the Maher family to the crowd.
“In this really tough time it is really hard for them to come up here and actually speak it, and they asked me to deliver to everybody from them,” he said.
“The love that we have for out beloved Bobby lives in our own hearts just as strong as the day he was born,” he read from a paper. “We think of him with every beat of our hearts. Bobby’s loving spirit lives in our sounds forever, impervious to death.”
Remembering ‘Bobby’
Martinez said knew Bobby and “enjoyed watching him play basketball at the YMCA. He had absolute just light about himself, smile, especially when he was playing.”
In an emotional 5-minute address, Martinez called for changes in the city of Casper. He characterized the current culture as a bad “diet” of violent music, hopeless movies, Snapchat fight groups and other cultural degradations affecting young minds and hearts.
“Proverbs 4:23 says, ‘Above all else guard your heart for everything flows through it,’” he said. “When unspeakable violence like this happens, it isn’t a bad seed, it’s a corrupt heart. They failed to see the amazing light the Lord had gave Bobby.
“What lives in the mind influences the heart, and what lives in your heart influences your actions, and shortly those actions become your identity.”
A Challenge
Martinez challenged the Casper community to examine how “we handle the youth. I always said, ‘You tell me how your youth are doing and I will tell you how your community’s doing.’”
He also asked parents to watch the “diet” children are taking in and called for young people to consider a relationship with Jesus Christ.
“As a community and those that work with youth, I challenge us to come together to show how strong and amazing this community really is by not letting Bobby’s name be just a catch hashtag or a sticker on a vehicle, but a platform to action,” he said. “So, to all of our teachers, officers, youth pastors, community partners and community centers like the Y, may we create more mentorship programs and ways to identify these troubled youth.”
At the end of his message, the crowd enthusiastically applauded and some “amens” could be heard.
Many people came to the stage to take photos of the collage of Bobby Maher’s life. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
A young teen girl who identified herself as Bobby Maher’s girlfriend thanked the crowd for coming and apologized to everyone who had to witness the tragedy on Sunday. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Many young people showed their support for Bobby Maher by wearing shirts with his photo. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
The community joined in prayers for change for the city and comfort in time a of loss. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
People came to Casper’s downtown from all walks of life to give more than an hour of their night in memory of a young life lost (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Thousands turned out Thursday night to honor the life of Bobby Maher, a 14-year-old who died following a stabbing at Eastridge Mall on Sunday. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
‘He Was A Good Kid’
Steven Maher, Bobby Maher’s great uncle, called himself a patriarch in the family. He stood before the service watching the crowd gather with tears in his eyes.
“What a turnout, that is not ordinary,” he said. “I’m really happy that it matters. I have never seen anything like this. There have been so many people volunteering to help and do anything they can.”
His great nephew?
“He was a good kid, very respectful,” he said.
A young teen girl who identified herself as Bobby Maher’s girlfriend walked up to the microphone at the end of the service and addressed the crowd.
“He was the best boyfriend I could have ever asked for,” she said. “Bobby had no hard feelings against anybody. And I want to say thank you to everyone who is showing support and giving donations and doing everything they can to show that they cared for Bobby.
“I also want to say I am sorry for everyone who had to witness that and I want to give a shout out to his family because I know he loved them so much.”
A young man who identified himself only as Nelson, 17, said he came to show support.
“This is something that is hard on everybody,” he said. “Kids shouldn’t have to go through this.”
Another man in his 20s, who identified himself only as Jesse, called the day “sad,” because “our children shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
Funeral Arrangements
Funeral arrangements for Maher also were announced by Bustards Funeral Home in Casper, a service at Walcott Galleria at 9 a.m. April 20.
An obituary released by the funeral home states that Maher was born Aug. 25, 2009, and was the youngest of four boys “with a spunky personality and thirst for adventure.”
“Bobby was naturally intelligent and athletic, which allowed him to flourish in many things, including his greatest passion — basketball,” the obituary states. “His tenacious nature, skill and great support from his family helped push Bobby to be a star player and a joy to watch on the court. Bobby’s light will shine brightly in everyone that had the chance to meet him.”
Maher is survived by his parents, Robert Maher Sr. and Mary Maher; and brothers, Charles, Patrick and Raiden.
Meanwhile, city officials have called for a community “call to action” as a result of the stabbing. A public meeting that includes city, Natrona County and school officials is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at the Casper Business Center on the mezzanine floor.
“We are very disturbed by the violence that was displayed on Sunday, April 7, at Eastridge Mall that resulted in the death of one of our 14-year-old citizens,” said J. Carter Napier, Casper city manager. “This is not what the Casper community is about.”
The 15-year-old suspects face adult murder-related charges for Maher’s death.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
