Dozens of photos of Amy Watts, from when she was young right up until her life was cut short, were hung during a candlelight vigil near where she was found in downtown Nanaimo. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

CANDLELIGHT TRIBUTE

VIDEO: ‘It’s devastating:’ vigil held for murdered Nanaimo outreach worker

Jun 16, 2021 | 11:24 PM

NANAIMO — Dozens came out to show how they were touched and helped by a Nanaimo outreach worker who struggled many personal demons and was recently found murdered.

Upwards of 50 people attended the candlelight vigil for Amy Nicole Watts on Wednesday, June 16. Watts was found deceased on a rocky outcrop in downtown Nanaimo after being missing for several days.

“Amy lived a life of happiness, love and caring and compassion but she led a life with a fractured mind,” her mother Janice Coady told the vigil crowd. “The instrument of addiction jumped in and tore her to shreds on so many levels. But she fought because my girl was a fighter and she was a beautiful soul.”

Watts worked at many social agencies in Nanaimo, such as the Samaritan House women’s shelter and Nanaimo Youth Services Association.

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“Amy was the type of woman and child who cared and just wanted to help people and make sure they grew from where they were and weren’t hurting and had the resources and help they needed,” Coady said tearfully.

Watts struggled with her mental health since she was young.

She had overcome many challenges and was living a sober life up until early 2020 when she lost her employment due to COVID-19.

Friends and family said Watts quickly spiralled and her personal demons were getting the best of her before she passed away.

Poems read by her mother illustrated the toll heroin and other drugs took on Watts, where she wrote her head felt fractured and she was inviting her own death with every new hit.

“My daughter might have ended up an addict but my daughter was human,” Coady said. “She was a caring, strong woman and anyone who knew her knew she would hit the pavement running and knock down any wall or mountain to make sure they were saved and got the help they needed.”

Watts was found deceased on June 3. Her death was considered suspicious and upgraded to a homicide on June 16, the day of the vigil.

Kayla Lilledahl, a fellow support worker who spoke for the staff from Samaritan House, said the news of Watts’ passing was surreal.

“(She) didn’t deserve any of this,” Lilledahl said. “She was such a light and she had so much to give. She showed up, even on bad days, and gave 110 per cent advocating for people who struggled and did it with dignity, integrity and compassion.”

The Serious Crime Unit is investigating Watts’ murder.

No arrests have yet been made in Nanaimo’s third homicide investigation of the year.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt