Well put, Sarah. While I only would consider myself as an acquaintance with mutual friend and mutual politics, this is a terrible and tragic loss for not only the progressive movement but for everyday Kansans and humanity in general. Jana was truly a person who believed in what she did and, for that, I always held and still hold a high amount of respect for her.

The apparent selfishness of this act makes it all the more devastating and difficult to understand. How can anyone commit such a terrible act?

How incredibly sad. She was so young with so much promise.

Sarah- thank you so, so much for saying what I've been trying to think of how to say all day. Jana was my friend and Jana was my co-worker, and I honestly can't believe she's just- gone.

Thoughts and prayers to her family and friends all over the country.

Thanks for the words of support. It felt a little better to write it all out, and remember the fun stuff about her, but when I woke up this morning... she was still gone and that part is really starting to sink in

What a beautiful tribute. Jana was an amazing woman.

This young dedicated activist volunteered her time 24/7 to help battered women (she didn't know) save their lives and escape abuse - and, she, herself became a victim to similar abuse. I think that one of the best ways to honor this young woman if for each person to volunteer some of their own efforts to battered women's shelters or abused women's hotlines or programs. Not only would we all be filling the void left behind by Jana's untimely death, but we would also be doing our part to keep others from suffering the same tragedy that Jana did.

I did not know Jana - but, I will make calls on Monday and see how best I can contribute some of my time to one of own local women's protection programs - as my way of saying this young woman did not die in vain.

Sarah:

I will always remember those fun days at Nancy's office in the summer of 2004. Jana and I had many conversations on our smoke breaks working the phones in the evenings. I will miss her smile, and the way she always made me feel like we'd known each other forever. She is still a giant to me.

Jeff Z

Thanks for posting that Pam, I was trying to but the net connection is pretty bad

University of Kansas Dean of the School of Law Gail Agrawal issued the following statements regarding the death of KU law student Jana Mackey:

"The law school community mourns the loss of our student and classmate Jana Mackey. Jana was well loved by all of us.

She was a smart, engaging woman whose warm personality and quick smile endeared her to all who knew her.

As a second-year law student, she was already a committed, skilled advocate, focusing her considerable talents on women’s issues, including the rights of rape victims and domestic abuse survivors.

Hers was a life of great promise.

She will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to her family in this time of shared deep sorrow."

This article appeared today in Jana's hometown newspaper:

Friends remember former Hays High School student By Diane Gasper-O'Brien, HDN

Described as an "achiever who was geared a lot like her mom," Jana Mackey's work to fight violence against women was cut short last week.

Mackey, 25, who grew up in Hays, was found dead in an ex-boyfriend's house in Lawrence late Thursday night.

The murder suspect, 46-year-old Adolfo Garcia-Nunez, an artist from Lawrence, was apprehended Friday night in New Jersey. Garcia-Nunez then took his own life a few hours after being taken into custody.

Mackey -- the daughter of Christie Brungardt, instructor of leadership studies at Fort Hays State University -- was in her second year of study at the University of Kansas School of Law.

This summer, Mackey was enrolled in the Paul E. Wilson Defender Project, representing state and federal prisoners in appellate and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts.

Brungardt said her entire family had plans to meet for the Fourth of July holiday at their lake house in Council Grove.

Brungardt became concerned when Mackey's best friend at KU called Thursday and said she hadn't heard from Mackey, who was supposed to have met her for lunch before leaving for the lake.

So Brungardt took off for Lawrence, and her friend found Mackey's vehicle in the parking lot of Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She called police, and at about 11:30 that night, authorities found Mackey's body inside Garcia-Nunez's house, which is near the hospital.

The search began for Garcia-Nunez, who was found Friday in New Jersey.

The couple had dated for about a year, but Brungardt said her daughter had told her three weeks ago the relationship was finished.

Brungardt has since learned Garcia-Nunez had spent time in prison a few years ago for domestic violence.

Mackey moved to Hays with her family when she was 5 years old and attended Hays public schools.

She was active in dance, music, theater and 4-H, where she consistently was a leader in the Gemini Juniors club in Hays.

"I remember her as a girl with lots of talent and leadership," said Donna Maskus, mother of two former 4-H'ers in Gemini Juniors.

"That girl had so much potential," agreed Betty Meis from Hays, a long-time 4-H leader for Gemini Juniors and also Mackey's Sunday school teacher at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. "She was going to go far, and this just isn't right."

An honor student at Hays High School, Mackey graduated in 2000 and headed east to Lawrence and the University of Kansas, from which she received scholarships in vocal music, in which she decided to major.

She continued to excel across the board and received honors for her theater performances.

Mackey eventually switched majors and received a degree in women's studies in 2004.

"Jana was never afraid to try something new," Meis said. "What an achiever, a lot like Christie."

Mackey worked as a volunteer advocate for a nonprofit organization that provides support for survivors of sexual assault.

"Advocates are people who are on call 24/7," Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of the Ga Du Gi Safe Center, said in a story in the Lawrence Journal-World. "They do the front-line work with victims; they're the ones who have heart."

"It takes a heart, and it takes being honey on steel, and she had that," Russell added. "She had everything, and above all, she had compassion for others."

Last August, Mackey started law school, where she also was awarded several scholarships for her work.

"Jana had a beautiful voice and could dance and was very smart," Meis remembered. "She had it all, a wonderful kid. I feel very privileged to have gotten to watch her grow up."

Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Hall on the campus of the University of Kansas.

In addition to her mother, her stepfather, Curt Brungardt, also lives in Hays, as do her older twin brothers, Todd and Travis Mackey.

One of the speakers at Wednesday's funeral services will be Gail Agrawal, dean of the KU School of Law. Mackey will be buried in Harper County in south-central Kansas, where she was born and still is the home of her father, Mike Mackey.

I would like to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Without the help and support of Jana's friends I don't how we would get through this.

Sarah

Thank you so much for the beautiful tribute. The first times I met Jana on the campaign trail she was hanging out with you. I remembering commenting to a political friend of mine that I thought you two had such a close relationship and were enjoying each other which during the stress of a campaign often doesn't happen. I have seen many relationships go south during a campaign. This says a lot about you and Jana to become good friends during the heat of a campaign and still have fun. Jana was one classy woman! My heart goes out to her loved ones.

becky fast

I knew Jana in her youth as I was a friend of her brother, Todd. I remember Jana as a person with such a tender heart, always looking out for her two brothers.
Although it has been many years since I have crossed paths with Jana, I was not suprised to see what wonderful things she has contributed to the world. Learning about all her efforts and accomplishment makes me want to be a better person. I wanted to write to let her family know I am thinking of them- you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

I only went to one year of high school with Jana, but remember very clearly her sense of style and personality and beauty and talent. She was truly an amazing person and I hope so much her hard work will continue to live on after she has passed, and that her family may find peace knowing she's shining down on everyone from above.

R.I.P.

Thanks, Becky. Its true we formed a very tight bond, but honestly that was how it was with Boyda's 2004 staff.

We all talked about it kinda like we were all in a play - and since Jana and I both did theatre we knew what that relationship meant. You form these incredibly close close relationships with people during times of high high stress and you are only there for each other.

Some people turn that into a way to distance each other or can't wait to get away from it - those of us who were staff in 2004 are still all very close and that's why I think so many of them were natural re-hires for me in 2006 on the other campaign we were working for. Its a kind of family loyalty.

And in terms of Jana and me it really became an important relationship because 2006 was also a tough time for me personally - and I feel like she really helped me get through that by providing a lot of perspective and understanding at a time I needed it most. I'm kinda thinking at this point that maybe she was just on a higher plain, ya know. Someone else described her as being in a really good place, and maybe that's what it was. I'm just lucky. All I can do is be grateful for the deep friendship we shared and hold those close to me a little tighter each time I see them. And never ever take it for granted.

I was a classmate of Jana's and she truly was an amazing person. She achieved so many things and still had many more to come. It's such a tragedy that something like this happened to her. My heart & prayers are with her friends and family.