Along with the traditional lights and tinsel, the Underwood family of Pocatello has something special on the Christmas tree this year: 11 pink bows as a reminder of each year they had with Jeralee before she was killed.
To her parents and their five other children, no day has felt the same since the tragedy of Jeralee's abduction and murder last June. But on Christmas, her favorite holiday, her absence is especially noticed."It's one day at a time," said her father, Jeff Underwood. "It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit. It won't be like a normal Christmas."
As difficult as it has been to cope with the loss, the Underwoods are going on with their lives. But sometimes Jeralee's brothers and sisters still have trouble sleeping at night.
Like the children, the parents try not to dwell on Jeralee's absence. But they recall agonizing in disbelief in the days just after Jeralee vanished while collecting for her newspaper route. It was a time her father said was "nothing but pure hell for not knowing."
But when police arrested a man who confessed to her death, the situation was overwhelming.
"There's been hurt that I never believed," Joyce Underwood said. "I never knew there could be so much hurt."
It was a random, senseless crime without meaning that threw the working-class family into a spotlight it didn't want.
"It's hard to believe there are people out there who will harm other people, especially children," Jeff Underwood said. "I can't understand it."
But despite those feelings, the Underwoods do not try to judge the man who confessed. James Wood, 46, Pocatello, has admitted Jeralee's murder as well as a long history of other assaults.
"We have forgiven him," Jeff Underwood said. They say such feelings are the only way they have been able to cope, along with their strong Mormon religious convictions of a just God.
Joyce Underwood said, "He'll have justice when he meets his maker."
Wood could be sentenced to death Jan. 14 in a hearing the Underwoods plan to attend.
But Jeff Underwood said he thinks the justice system needs some reform. Wood served two prison terms in Louisiana for rape and robbery but was released early with apparently little supervision.
"I'm afraid there are so many other James Woods out there that are committing crimes," Jeff said.
If tougher sentences had been in place, perhaps Jeralee would still be with them.
As someone wrote in one Christmas card they received, they are sure Jeralee is celebrating Jesus Christ's birthday with him.
"We couldn't go through this if we didn't have the knowledge we've been blessed with," Jeff said.
They also were comforted with a visit from Jamie Masengill, the 19-year-old Missouri woman who testified against Wood. Wood has confessed to raping her, shooting her in the head and leaving her for dead.
"She just felt like part of the family," Joyce Underwood said.