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Elana James
"A beautiful voice, a fantastic musician,
with the heart and soul of an angel."
-Willie Nelson
Just arrived in Royal Oak, Michigan. Here's an update on the gofundme. Just posting it here in case it's hard to access with the link. Much love. E.
Royal Oak, MI
December 17, 2025
To all my dear friends, supporters and loved ones here,
Have arrived in Royal Oak, Michigan tonight, my Mom’s hometown, and am planning to go to mediation tomorrow morning at 10 AM in Birmingham, Michigan.
I’ve been so moved to have been getting messages this evening from so many of you of love, support, encouragement, fortitude, all of it. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to each and every one of you, and to have finally publicly shared the horror I’ve been dealing with from this aggressive lawsuit, in addition to the overwheming grief at losing my Mom so violently, and trying to settle her estate while doing my best to honor her wishes and her memory.
The fact that your contributions have so obliterated our $9,000 goal is deeply moving to me. I honestly don’t know what to say. And to Nancy Padilla, who started this fund, again, I just want to thank you for your loving care and generosity in stepping in from the heart and creating this resource for me.
I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I look forward to a day very soon when I can again love and kiss and romp with Isabelle once we come to a fair agreement on her custody and welfare, which is what I absolutely know my Mom would have wanted.
You all are beyond amazing. No matter what happens over the coming days—and I will report back, to the degree that I am legally able to do so—please know how incredibly grateful I am for the support every single one of you has offered me during this dark time. You loving care has been so powerful for me, it has lifted me up.
More soon, and with so much love,
❤️
Elana
Donate to Help Elana James in the aftermath of her Mother’s murder, organized by Nancy Padilla
gofund.me
Hello, I’m a friend of Elana James, and I’m creating this GoFun… Nancy Padilla needs your support for Help Elana James in the aftermath of her Mother’s murder8 CommentsComment on Facebook
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰🥰
Good luck with the mediation!
Wishing you the best in such a difficult time
To everyone who contributed so spectacularly to the gofundme, this is a related issue. I hope this is the first of many pieces in the media to draw attention to the fact that the Washtenaw County District Attorney, Eli Savit, who is running for Michigan Attorney General in 2026, is refusing to press criminal charges against the individual who murdered my Mom. Our family would like a trial. Thanks for all your support, and thanks to Erika Erikson for being the first person to report on this story. ALSO: If you click "like" please don't worry--I view that as a show of support. ❤️
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
This is so sad!
I find their decision not to try this murderer to be irresponsible beyond belief. Shame on the prosecutors The citizens of Michigan should never elect this man as their Attorney General. It looks like common sense left town in regards to protecting the citizens of Michigan. This lunatic will kill again if given the chance. I so admire Elana James and her sister for not giving up in this matter. I will donate to the cause to insure the funds are their for their cause. I ask all fair minded people to do the same. God Bless you. Sid Welch
Today at 6 PM with Henry Horenstein (plus Lupa and fiddling) in Austin. Join us!
www.firstlightaustin.com
Join First Light Books to celebrate photographer Henry Horenstein's newest monograph, MILES AND MILES OF TEXAS, and the 20th anniversary reissue of his iconic HONKY TONK: PORTRAITS OF COUNTRY MUSIC.0 CommentsComment on Facebook