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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Hall and Tunstall were friends growing up in East St. Louis, attending grade school and an alternative high school together. Both women were described by family and friends as quiet children who mostly kept to themselves.

Their family lives were unstable. While Tunstall spent time in foster homes, Hall spent years in and out of Juvenile Detention, according to her mother, Beverly Cruise. They became mothers as teenagers and struggled to care for their children.

Hall lost custody of her children for three years after her 2-month-old baby suffered debilitating injuries. She later regained custody.

Cruise is like a member of Tunstall’s family.

Cruise said she felt she had to come along when Tunstall’s family, including Tunstall’s mother, Sandra Myers, went to view the victim’s body Saturday at Officer Funeral Home in Belleville.

Along with the two mothers was Lovie White, who is Myers’ sister and Cruise’s best friend. The small group walked out of the office, through the waiting room and into the room that held their loved one’s remains.

Myers immediately fainted.

Cruise collapsed onto a bench. She clung to White as she cried.

Myers was carried to a sofa.

Cruise said softly: "I had to come see for myself."

She added, almost in a whisper, "I wanted to hold her, hug her, say I’m sorry."

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.