Elizabeth Carlson once spent spring afternoons running around the tennis courts, playing on the tennis team with her sister and friends.
A group of 30 women gathered at the Newington High School courts — including Carlson’s mother, Audrey Carlson, sister Leslie Carlson Schlachter and former teammate Genna Geamatteo — to honor Carlson’s memory with the Elizabeth Anne Carlson Memorial Ladies Tennis Jam nearly 22 years to the day since she was killed.
This year, $22 donations were made by all those playing in the friendly tennis scramble, marking the milestone of more than two decades without Elizabeth.
On May 22, 2002, 24-year-old Elizabeth was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend , who hid in her parents’ Newington home and laid in wait, armed with a gun.
Their daughter was murdered in their own home. Now this CT family is fighting to keep inmates like her killer in prison.
Sunday’s third annual tennis jam, benefiting the Elizabeth Anne Carlson Performing Arts Foundation , is one of many ways her family has made sure she is remembered and honored.
With a framed photo of a smiling Elizabeth displayed at the registration table, her family kicked off the event by thanking all the players for coming out to remember Elizabeth, what she loved and what her legacy will be.
“This is yet another part of Elizabeth that mattered and she played on these courts,” her sister Leslie Carlton Schlachter said.
“It brings a lot of meaning and purpose to our lives that Elizabeth’s purpose continues to live on.”
“I think about my sister all the time. We think about Elizabeth all the time,” said Carlson Schlachter as she stood beside her mother. “And one of the things I like about this is that it forces us to all get together and think about her. Thank you for being here so we can all continue to think about her.”
Genna Giamatteo, a childhood friend of both sisters, helped organize the tennis jam. On Sunday, she busily ran up and down the courts, telling the players when their time was up, registering new players and sharing Elizabeth’s life story with those who did not know the story behind the event.
Looking out at the full courts, with the sound of tennis balls volleying back and forth echoing behind her, Genna said that for her, the annual event is bittersweet.
“These are the very courts Elizabeth played on,” she said somberly. “It’s bitter sweet. It brings joy because we have great memories of being on a team together here, but there’s an overall sadness that she isn’t here. Her life was taken from her and she was robbed of so many things.”
At the same time, Giamatteo said she finds it heartwarming and feels hopeful when she sees so many people showing up to support the Carlsons so many years after the tragedy.
“I am grateful that we were able to have over 30 women come together to celebrate Elizabeth’s life, uplift Audrey and keep Elizabeth’s memory alive,” she said. “I appreciate everyone taking the time to come and show that this family’s not alone. That they are loved and supported.”
The event also sends a message about domestic violence, she said.
“Women are here to stand against domestic violence, too. To say, ‘We will not tolerate it. We will fight, and we’re here for you if you need us,” she said.
Elizabeth was killed after leaving her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Carney, who had been the family’s veterinarian. He is now serving a 42-year prison sentence after being convicted of killing Elizabeth.
Carlson Schlachter, and her parents Audrey and Bruce Carlson, have worked tirelessly over the past two decades to carry on Elizabeth’s legacy by raising awareness about the signs of domestic violence, advocating for criminal justice reform, lobbying for legislative changes, and supporting young people who share the same passions as Elizabeth, like performing on stage.
The family runs the performing arts foundation in her name , providing scholarships to high school graduates who are engaged in the performing arts like Elizabeth was.
Elizabeth’s family said that as an avid performer, Elizabeth was frustrated when she was applying to colleges. There were no shortage of scholarships out there for athletes and even academics, but not many for performers, they said.
Elizabeth told her parents she hoped to change that someday. And although she never had the chance to become a professional career performer, her legacy has helped many students follow that goal.
The foundation has helped dozens of students attend school with scholarships and go on to have careers as Rockettes, cast members in Hamilton on Broadway and as Hollywood screenwriters.
“This, I know, would mean a lot to her,” said Carlson Schlachter from the sidelines on Sunday.
While Elizabeth was known for her love of dance and theater, and her legacy certainly carries on on stage, her family wanted to honor her love of tennis, as well.
The idea came when Audrey Carlson picked up the sport a few years ago, playing on the same courts where both her daughters both played.
Carlson Schlachter said that for her, “events like this only bring back good memories.”
“It’s nice to be home, to think about her and talk about her. People who knew her love to talk about her and people who didn’t, they want to hear about her. It’s nice to teach people about her,” she said.
Carlson Schlachter described her sister as “very elegant, poised, charismatic, witty, and extremely loving.”
She told the players on Sunday that Elizabeth “was an unbelievably fun person to be around.”
Last year, the pain of Elizabeth’s loss was compounded when Carney — who had avoided trial by taking a plea deal — wrote a letter to the Board of Paroles and Pardons to request a full hearing to consider a commutation of his sentence.
The Carlsons, in return, got more than 1,000 other people to write letters in opposition.
The possibility of a commuted sentence led the family to speak out about the re-traumatization it caused them, saying it sent their family into a terrified tailspin.
Giammatteo, who sat through Carney’s court hearings after Elizabeth was killed, said that the commutation hearing last year brought all the worst memories rushing back.
“It was like reliving the murder last year,” she said at the tennis jam.
Carlson Schlachter, said the same on Sunday.
“When we were going through all of the legal stuff last year that was really painful, it brought back the pain.”
The Carlsons collected letters to oppose the commutation and again took their concerns to the state legislature. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles later temporarily halt reductions in sentences for violent criminals and for Gov. Ned Lamont replaced then-chairman Carleton J. Giles of Milford from the board’s top spot.
The Carlson’s story generated public outcry as they drew attention to a spike in commutations the prior year, 71 inmates had their sentences reduced last year, including 44 convicted of murder.
Their daughter was murdered in their own home. Now this CT family is fighting to keep inmates like her killer in prison.
Now, the Carlsons are gearing up to support another family who once supported them. On Sunday, they spoke of Sam and Wanda Rieger, a couple they met when they attended their first meeting for the non-profit organization Survivors of Homicide, which helps provide support and advocacy for people whose loved ones have been slain.
CT parents forced to relive worst nightmare. Their daughter’s killer seeks sentence modification.
An upcoming sentence modification hearing has the Rieger now reliving their worst nightmare as Jose Crespo, the man convicted of killing their 19-year-old daughter Melanie Rieger, heads to court.
Crespo has applied to be released early from prison after serving about 30 years of his 60-year sentence. He is scheduled to appear in court in Waterbury on June 5 — the Carlsons plan to be by their side.
“They were the first couple we met just weeks after Elizabeth’s murder,” Audrey Carlson said. “They were the people who walked us through the criminal justice system, who we connected with and who we have stayed connected with for the past 22 years.”
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