Dozens at vigil for missing Ryan Godbey chant “Bring Ryan home!”
Dozens of people attended a vigil for missing Ryan Godbey at Darlin’s CREW bar on Cherry Avenue NE in Canton July 2.
- Drag queen entertainers contributed all their tips earned July 2 at Darlin’s CREW bar in Canton to support the family and search for missing Ryan Godbey.
- Attendees at the vigil held up candles and chanted repeatedly, “Bring Ryan home!”
- Ryan Godbey was last seen at Darlin’s CREW late the night of June 19.
CANTON − Drag queen entertainer Lady Inferno Diamond performed an elaborate lip-synch of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” for free at Darlin’s CREW bar July 2 to help bring awareness to missing fellow performer Ryan T. “JJ” Godbey.
Lady Inferno Diamond, who didn’t personally know Godbey, offered to donate all tips collected to Godbey’s family to help cover the cost of a $5,000 reward and for family members to take time off from work to search for Godbey.
“I’m, like, God forbid for something like this to happen to me, I would hope the community would show up like that in full force,” said Lady Inferno Diamond, who lives in Kent. “It’s just something you don’t think about or think it’s going to happen until it does.”
Dozens of supporters, many of them members of the LGBTQ+ community, attended the drag show benefit and vigil at Darlin’s CREW Bar to call for Godbey, 26, to be found and brought home to his family.
Ryan Godbey missing since June 19
Witnesses told police they last saw Godbey around 11 p.m. June 19 at Darlin’s CREW bar at 302 Cherry Ave. NE.
Police have told the family that they found signs of a struggle in Godbey’s Canton apartment. His seizure medication and cats had been left behind. His driver’s license and credit card were later found by Interstate 77 near the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Police said on June 24 they arrested a 33-year-old man and 38-year-old woman on charges of criminal trespass and aggravated possession of drugs after investigators sought to question them about Godbey’s disappearance. But one has been charged related to Godbey going missing.
Family members and volunteers have launched a search for Godbey and left signs with his picture around much of Canton seeking information.
Benefit for Godbey’s family
Dave Hite, the owner of Darlin’s CREW, said he was donating 10% of all sales at the bar the evening of July 2 to Godbey’s family.
“This could happen to anybody,” Hite said. “For somebody that young, to have that many people jump on board and be all about trying to help him and his family, I think that’s great. All of these people are here for his family.”
Inside the bar, event host DJ Venus Campian referred to Godbey’s family living in an unbearable state of limbo.
“We haven’t stopped hoping (for Godbey’s safe return),” said Campian. “And we will never stop loving you.”
Samantha Richardson of Hartville, founder of The Silent Mother Project to support mothers grieving loss, has volunteered to search for Godbey and helped host the event at Darlin’s CREW.
“Tonight, we honor not just the fact Ryan’s missing, but the incredible person that they are,” said Richardson, who did not personally know Godbey. “We hold space for their laughter, their talent and their spark. Ryan is not just a name on a flyer. They’re loved, missed and we are not giving up.”
Richardson like others at the event referred to Godbey as “they.”
Godbey’s aunt Nancy Regula said, “Ryan is my heart. He was raised with my kids. … We’re not stopping. We’re going to hunt until the end of the world, if that’s what it takes.”
Local activist Sierra Mason told the crowd that Godbey is going to come home. “We are going to continue to manifest that into existence. We are going to speak that into good prayer.”
Mason then led the crowd in chants, “Say his name!”
The crowd, which included members of Godbey’s family, responded, “Ryan J.J. Godbey!”
Patty McFarland handed out yellow stars that said “#bringRyanhome.” She said she had learned that Godbey’s favorite emoji was a yellow star.
Later, Godbey’s supporters went outside the bar and standing by Cherry Avenue, they held up lit candles, and repeatedly chanted, “Bring Ryan home!”
Reach Repository writer Robert Wang at [email protected].