Cadence Boyer (2007-2014)

Cadence Boyer, was a second grader who lit up a room and was beloved by everyone who knew her.  At 7, “Cadence loved to be in front of a camera, ride her bike and swim.”  

Washington voted to legalize marijuana in 2012, and cannabis shops opened to the public in summer 2014.  That year Cadence went trick-or-treating in Vancouver, WA (just north of Portland, OR), with her mother, her friend, and her friend’s mother. She dressed as Bat Girl for Halloween.   The group had lots of candy but decided to make one last stop that night.  

Just then, a 47-year-old man under the influence of drugs climbed over the curb, crashing into the group of 4 from behind.  All of them were rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, including broken bones in the spine, legs and arms.

Cadence suffered the worst fate of all. She suffered a broken back and had no blood flow to her brain. She was on life support at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland before she died two days after the crash.

The other little girl, a 6-year-old, was released in a week. Both mothers had long, extensive recovery times, and Cadence’s mother continued to have long-term pain. 

A week earlier, Cadence’s cat died and her mother had to explain to her that the pet was in cat heaven.  Little did she realize that she would be consoling herself a week later.
                                                                                                                                          The suspect, Duane Abbott, later told police he smokes 2 to 3 grams of marijuana daily and that he smoked his last joint three hours before the crash, according to court records.

Cadence’s grandmother, Cathy Boyer, said: “He just took a part of my heart that I can never get back. “He ripped it out of my chest and stomped on it. 

Based on the severity of the crash, Abbott was sentenced to 16 and ½ years in prison.  It was determined that he was high on marijuana and methamphetamine at the time of the crash. At the trial, Abbot apologized for the first time to the Boyers, and to the other victims who were seriously injured in the crash. 

Cadence’s family called the sentencing a bittersweet ending. Ten years later, the family never wants her to be forgotten.