Dylann Roof's Sister Allegedly Starts GoFundMe for Cancelled Wedding
On Saturday, a woman who appears to be the sister of suspected Charleston shooter Dylann Roof started a GoFundMe page to recover the deposits she lost by canceling her June 21 wedding after the massacre at Emanuel AME Church “destroyed [her] dream day.” Amber Roof’s page, which also sought donations to “pay bills, and to send us on our dream honeymoon,” was deleted this afternoon after raising more than $1,600.
Four days before his sister’s wedding to Michael Tyo was set to take place, Dylann Roof allegedly shot nine people to death in Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church. Amber and Tyo cancelled their wedding because—as the GoFundMe appeal puts it—the “media abused our privacy and published all of our wedding information and destroyed our dream day.” Also: “to mourn the lives of those lost.”
Ten days, the Tyos apparently decided, was enough time to mourn before requesting $5,000 from strangers “to cover lost wedding costs, to pay bills, and to send [them] on our dream honeymoon.” Ten percent of what they raised would, they claimed, be donated to Emanuel.
By this morning, more than 30 people had donated roughly $1,600 total, though it’s unlikely Tyo or Roof will see any of that; following reports about the GoFundMe in the Washington Post and Post and Courier, the fundraising page was deleted this afternoon. The original letter is copied below.
Dear Family & Friends,
As many of you know Michael and I had to abruptly cancel our wedding day, due to the tragedy that occurred in Charleston. June 21st was suppose to be the happiest day of our lives. It is the day every girl dreams of, it was the day we dreamed of. We had each other, we have the perfect venue, and we had our vows ready to be read. We were ready! We had planned out every detail for months and months. It was going to be the PERFECT day!
Our wedding day was suppose to be the most important and special day of our lives. It was suppose to start our lives together with our new family. Our day was the exact opposite. Our wedding day was full of sorrow, pain, and shame, tainted by the actions of one man.
The Charleston Massacre took place and our lives were forever changed. The media abused our privacy and published all of our wedding information and destroyed our dream day. Destroying the first day of Michael and my life together.
We cancelled our wedding to protect our family and mourn the lives of those lost. Many friends and family members came into town and took time off of work to be there for us. We could not ask you to do that again.
We would like the chance to start our lives on a postive note. Therefore, we have decided to start a Go Fund Me account. We know money cannot replace the wedding we lost and our perfect day, however it will help us to create new memories and a new start with our new family.
Money raised will be used to cover lost wedding costs, to pay bills, and to send us on our dream honeymoon. 10% of all funds raised will be donated to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We thank you for any contrabution you can make.
Our lives have been forever changed and touched by all the love and support you have shown us through this difficult time. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS! GOD BLESS!
Love, The Tyo’s