Steven Furtado laid to rest

Steven Furtado was buried Saturday morning, following a tearful funeral service at Memorial Hall in Willows.

Furtado, an 18-year old Willows High senior, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Carrigan, a senior at Chester High, were discovered dead a week ago in Chester.

“Steven never needed someone else’s approval to validate what he liked to do,” said Ellen Pastorino, Steven’s music teacher.

Services began at 10 a.m., in a packed theatre house at Memorial Hall in downtown Willows. Prior to the eulogy, Steven’s fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 57 acted as an impressive color guard, presenting the U.S. and state flags with a full dress ceremony.

Pastorino described Steven as a dedicated student from a large, hardworking family. Steven made the most of his life as an athlete and musician and as a mechanic, carpenter, and Eagle Scout, she said. “He was very comfortable with himself,” Pastorino said. “He never struggled with self-confidence. He dressed the way he wanted and he did what he wanted.”

Nate Sawyer, a youth minister at Open Gate Christian Fellowship church, delivered a tender, heartbreaking eulogy. He said Steven was an outstanding example for his fellow churchgoers. Sawyer wept openly while he spoke and the more than 600 in attendance cried with him. “We are overwhelmed with despair,” Sawyer said, “but we need to have hope.”

Willows High School vice principal Jerry Smith also spoke Saturday morning. He shared stories about Steven and said when sheriff’s deputies told him about the tragedy last week, they cried with him. “Then when (the deputy) left, I cried again. I cried for Steven, and for (his parents) Dan and Denise, and for everyone at our high school,” Smith said.

Furtado was the third student to die from this year’s senior class in Willows. Last month 18-year old Kayla Arnold died in San Francisco for unknown medical reasons. In 2006 Brian Parks, son of football coach Curtis Parks, died after collapsing at a football practice. All three were supposed to graduate in just three weeks. Steven was buried just a few feet from his classmates.

“The last two years have been tough for us,” Smith said. “But, (the students) have been rocks. We love you and we wish we could fix this,” Smith said through tears. “It’s been said a million times, but Steven was really a great kid."

After the eulogy, the Boy Scouts performed a special ceremony honoring Steven, and 14-year old Scout Christian Perez performed “Taps” on his bugle.

A funeral procession carried Steven to Willows Cemetery for a short graveside service.

After the service, Alex Salas, a friend of Steven’s, said it was very difficult to talk about him, but said Steven was good at being someone’s friend. “He was really generous,” Salas said.

Within just a few hours after the two teenagers were discovered last week, Plumas County Sheriff’s deputies had a suspect in custody.

Authorities have charged Reyes Carrillo-Garcia, Carrigan’s former boyfriend, with two counts of murder and one count of burglary. Carrillo-Garcia, 18, will be arraigned June 4 and is being held without bail in Plumas County. Authorities believe Carrillo-Garcia acted alone and the Plumas County District Attorney has said he will pursue the death penalty, according to media reports.

Jennifer’s mother, Jodie Carrigan, attended Steven’s funeral Saturday. She sat behind Steven’s parents, Dan and Denise, and wept quietly, but openly.

Carrigan discovered the bodies on Mother’s Day around noon. Autopsy reports showed both victims had been stabbed multiple times.

Carrigan’s grief was compounded later that night when her son Billy was fatally injured in a car accident while rushing home to be with his mother. He died Tuesday morning in Chico.

Faith Thompson, a spokesperson for the Furtado family, said Steven’s parents traveled to Chico on Tuesday to be with Jodie Carrigan. Thompson said several members of Steven’s family, including his parents plan to attend the funeral services for the Carrigan siblings this Tuesday in Chester.

“Dan and Denise would like to thank the whole Willows community for all their support,” Thompson said. Scores of people, including complete strangers, have been stopping by the Furtado house with food and flowers, calling to express their condolences and offering to help out, she said. “Dan and Denise are hurting, but they’re holding on to each other,” Thompson said. “All the support they have received from their friends and family have helped them to be strong."

A public viewing for Jennifer Carrigan and Billy Carrigan is scheduled on Monday from 5-8 p.m., at Christ the King Catholic Church at the corner of Gay St. and Melissa Ave., in Chester.

Funeral services are set for Tuesday at 1 p.m., at the Chester High football field, 612 First Street in Chester. A reception will follow at the high school gymnasium.

A bank account has been established to help the Furtado family with funeral expenses. Donations to the Steven Daniel Furtado Memorial Fund can be made at any US Bank.

Contact Rob Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.