READING, Pa. – After a much-needed rest following four days in a Reading courtroom, the grandmother of a slain teen is describing what’s going through her mind.
“I was relieved at the verdict, but I wasn’t happy at the verdict,” said Betty Perch, grandmother of Javien Perch.
The day after a jury found Vashon Winfield and Hector Torres guilty of killing 19-year-old Javien Perch in Reading back in 2023, his loved ones are sharing their thoughts. After the word guilty came down, another word is sticking with his grandmother.
“I still didn’t get a ‘why,’ still didn’t get a ‘why,’ not that it would make it any better, but still I have not heard a reason as to why,” Betty Perch said.
She shared a memory of her grandson as a dancing, singing teen, just starting out life.
“A happy, funny kid. He just liked to be fun. He liked to be goofy,” Betty said.
Javien’s father says he plans to speak to the convicted men at sentencing.
“I will have an opportunity at sentencing to say something, and that’s something. That’s going to be a while out. I’ll have some time to prepare that,” Jeremy Perch, Javien’s father, said.
Javien’s dad says his son was beginning to break out of his shell through music, and he wants others to carry on his son’s legacy by finding their voice and passion.
“We have to do stuff to keep them interested in other things so that they don’t resort to these type of things.”