KELSO, Wash. — In Southwest Washington, a small group gathered to remember Brittany Thuney. She was a 31-year-old mother, murdered in May of 2020.
“Grief is something that you deal with over time," Joe Thuney, Brittany's father said.
Joe Thuney walked the path his daughter took on her last day, ending at the Arco gas station in Kelso where she was shot and killed.
“Since that night, I have not been able to stop here," he said.
Three years ago, Brittany Thuney dropped her seven-year-old daughter off at her ex's house. Kelso police say when she drove away after the exchange, toward Bloyd and 18th, a man ambushed her.
It was her ex's father, Scott Belenski. Police say Belenski shot Brittany Thuney, but she was able to get away by driving down the hill toward the gas station.
Belenski followed her down the hill, pulled into the gas station parking lot and fired several shots into her car.
“As a parent, you’re always saying 'Oh no, no, no. That could never happen. That will never happen'," he said. "It did happen. And that’s a lot to take in."
Police say Belenski then turned the gun on himself.
Even though the gunman was dead, Kelso police continued investigating. In 2021, Brittany Thuney's ex was arrested for obstruction of a law enforcement officer, making false statements to a public servant, tampering with physical evidence and a protection order violation order. Police say some of those actions were related to the murder.
Although three years have passed, the case is still open.
"There's someone else out there that justice needs to be served [to]," Joe Thuney said.
Now, Joe Thuney is not only asking for justice for his daughter Brittany, but also for his granddaughter. Thuney says she is living with her biological father. He says he often fears for her safety and is fighting for custody of the 10-year-old.
“They’re still saying this is the best place for this child to be when they could be with a nurturing grandparent, aunt, uncle," he argued. "We're not doing what’s in the best interest of these children."
There is a law in Washington, that Thuney says, is making it difficult for him to get custody of his granddaughter.
It's called the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and other Protective Arrangements Act. Thuney argues that this Act, which took effect in 2021, favors biological parents over other guardians, even when those parents have a criminal history or struggle with drug use.
"I've got a ten-year-old little girl that's dependent on Papa to do what's right," Thuney said.
Thuney is now working with Washington lawmakers, hoping to strengthen grandparent rights. He says this fight for protection of women and children is his calling.
"Brittany is not alone in her story."