MURDER VICTIM: Friends Remember Judy VanLo

Described as a beautiful joyful person, Judy VanLo’s friends say it’s still hard to believe she’s gone.

“That’s why we’re so confused because Judy was a bubbly personality; she had no enemy’s,” said her friend Fernando Lara.

VanLo’s best friend says what happened is especially hard because Judy had just found out some good news.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions, mainly because she was two months pregnant so there is a lot of uncertainty in all of this,” says Lara.

Lara says he was asked to be the Godfather before Judy’s death.

He says the family is coping as best they can under the circumstances-but have found some peace in knowing Judy lived life to the fullest.

“What I mostly will remember about her is she lived with no regrets, so that brings peace in all this, knowing that she didn’t go without regretting anything,” says Lara.

Police were called to the VanLo home Sunday evening after Judy’s brother found her not breathing, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators are still working on a timeline to narrow down how VanLo died, but haven’t released many details to the public.

Friends say VanLo also spent a lot of time at her work, a local restaurant on the south side of Des Moines.

Her boss said Judy was a good employee and friend that will be missed.

“She was a really hard-working girl, really nice, and sweet and just a normal exciting girl you know, she will be missed a lot,” says Sommani Phanthavong, owner of Nut Pob Restaurant.

VanLo’s funeral is being held Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, a visitation will begin one hour before.

Her friends are also holding a candle light vigil for her at 9:00 p.m. Friday night at North High School.