Lisa Marie Kuziak
Born: 06 September 1978
Died: 26 October 1992
Age: 14
"When I die, I want to be buried there," Lisa mentioned to my sister, pointing to the road sign in front of the Oak Ridge Cemetery. "That way I know which way is to Heaven." Every time I drove past that exit sign with the arrow printed from the cemetery grounds towards the sky, perfectly angled over the mountains, I thought of that statement Lisa had spoken.
Now she's buried as close as could be arranged in 1992 when she was only 14 years old, a freshman at Farragut High School in Knoxville, TN. Just a few months prior to her death I had graduated from that same high school. Just a few months prior I tried to prepare my sister for the same high school as I prepared for college. Just a few months prior, she confided in my sister if she ever dies it won't be suicide since that prevents entrance to Heaven. Her death would either be from natural causes as God intended or she would be murdered.
Her obituary was published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel on October 28, 1992
She's now buried at Oak Ridge Memorial Park
1501 Bethel Valley Rd
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(images and map coming soon)
According to the media, she was found on October 26, 1992, with a single gunshot wound to the temple from an apparent suicide. None of us believed she would do such an action for the simple fact she was obsessed with her soul reaching Heaven.
In addition, her mother had shown up at our house the day after Lisa's funeral declaring, "I know she didn't do it. I know she was killed. No one believes me!"
The police report stated the gun was found near her right hand, but Lisa was left-handed. The report showed two gunshot entry points and no gun residue. None was detected on her hands and there was too much blood to determine residue on her face. The bullet entry points were located below her jawline the other on her right temple. According to studies in this area, although possible, the statistics are very low (3.6%) for someone to perform multiple gunshots if the first one missed the brain - but we don't know as an autopsy was never completed.
Lisa was dating 21-year-old Chris Ford who claimed to be a Lenoir City Police Officer, but his employment was never verified. Rumors claimed Chris was dating another female. Her mother Diane Yuhas was also known to be dating a police detective, who was never named. It was and still is being alleged the two officers are the same man, thus Chris was potentially dating three women at the same time.
Lisa had separate arguments on the day of her death with her mother and her boyfriend. Friends state Lisa's relationship with her mother was not a loving one, as the mother was never there for her so they were always arguing.
According to the mother and family members, Diane was on a date with a police detective and he was inside their family home the night of Lisa's death. Friends claim Lisa was supposed to be with her boyfriend, a Lenoir City Police Officer who lived down the road in the same neighborhood. However, she was not found at Chris' house, but allegedly inside her family home.
Chris Ford's house is not standing today. Only an overgrown lot, driveway and a mailbox remain.
Chris Ford was the only person who had pushed the idea that Lisa committed suicide.
No further investigations were launched.
No friends were allowed to see the police report.
No evidence was introduced.
No bullet trajectory test was conducted.
No autopsy was performed.
All attempts to obtain the police report and case details over the past 27 years have hit dead ends. The mother is currently missing in action and as far as we know no one else has a copy of the report. Her stepchildren believe she is still alive but has no contact information. Even noncivilians like county sheriff officers, city police officers, and even a county Prosecutor couldn't gain access.
If you have any information on Lisa's death, the situation leading up to her death or even rumors, please contact me.