LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Friends of Ty Abner are left heartbroken after his death, but they are looking for ways to honor his memory.
Abner tragically died after he was assaulted in a Lexington parking garage late Monday night. Another man has been arrested and charged with his murder.
The 31-year-old loved Halloween and had already set his home up as a haunted house in time for this weekend.
His friends decided, that while they are in mourning, the show must go on because that's what Ty would've wanted.
"We don't want to be distracted from him. We want to remember him, and this is the best way that we could see to remember him," said James Coots.
Coots lives next door to Abner, and they first met in 2019.
"One of the biggest people in my family, in my wife's family, and kids' family. He was Uncle Ty. Everybody loved him," said Coots.
Through ingenuity, determination, and help from some friends, Abner has turned his two-car garage into a five-room House of Horrors. Coots says that Ty played the part of "Tiggles the Clown," and invited other neighbors to take part.
"He always went all out and loved to dress up for Halloween," said Coots.
Coots says this first Halloween without Abner will be tough.
"It's gonna take some time to get over. We're gonna miss him. We miss him every day. It's something we're gonna continue to work on and live the way he would've wanted us to," said Coots.
That starts with keeping the spooky spirit alive at home. The haunted house at Abner's home will be open for kids and adults to enjoy for Halloween weekend.
The "Spooktacular Haunted House" will be on October 30 and 31 from 7:30-10:00 p.m. at 740 Nickwood Trail in Lexington. The event is free and open to the public.
They will be accepting donations for the Lexington Humane Society to benefit Ty's love of animals.
