Mother of victim of 2004 Tulsa unsolved murder works to help other families of unsolved cases | News

TULSA, Okla. – Friday marked Brittany Phillips' 39th birthday.

FOX23 told you how her 2004 murder remains unsolved and how her mother led a caravan to try to catch her killer.

To honor her daughter's memory, she now does what she can to help other families like hers.

Her mother, Maggie Zingman, said she is inviting families with cold cases to meet with her this weekend and make this year a springboard for stronger advocacy for those who know this pain all too well.

“This anniversary is coming up this year. “It hit me really hard when I suddenly realized that this was the first time that she was going to be dead longer than she was alive,” Zingman said.

Not a day goes by that Zingman doesn't think about her daughter, and on the occasion of her daughter's 39th birthday, she offers to meet other cold case families.

“I want to accomplish as much as I can and hopefully help the people who are more than 20 years into the game so they can have some say and some power in their healing,” Zingman said. “Just being able to connect with them and let them know is a support system,” Zingman said.

She's even pushing for changes in communication between law enforcement and the families who have cold cases.

“When it comes to trauma-informed care for cold cases, Tulsa police do a lot in their initial contact, early contact, but we think there may be some changes in cold case contact,” Zingman said. “A lot. “Police officials say in hopes of protecting the case, don't let families in and recognize this is our loved one.”

Zingman said part of dealing with trauma is communication and she plans to offer more healing writing workshops.

“You don’t have to be able to write, it’s called ‘snaking through walls,’ and we use metaphors to express some of those feelings,” Zingman said.

She said she also plans to start a local support group in eastern Oklahoma, hold an awareness march for murder victims' rights and host a benefit show to raise money for DNA analysis.

“I had to get a $6,000 donation to analyze our current DNA because it is so expensive and many police departments don't have the resources. That's why we want to set up some kind of ongoing fund, hopefully called “Brittany's Bridge.” “To help the police or the families,” Zingman said.

Zingman said she will continue to keep Brittany's story alive and fight to give other families a voice.

Zingman said she will host another meeting at Rose Hill Memorial Park on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. to meet anyone who wants to socialize. You can also get in touch via their Facebook page by clicking here.