Remembering Andrea Kruger a Year Later

Wednesday marked one year to the day since Andrea Kruger was murdered just outside the city limits becoming the fourth victim of a spree killer.

Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life she lived.

The got together for a remembrance party at the Deja Vu Lounge in West Omaha. A 7 p.m. balloon launch would honor the mother of three.

Andrea Kruger spent her final moments working at the lounge before taking off early that morning when the bar closed. Within 20 minutes or so, she was murdered by spree killer Nikko Jenkins.

It has been a challenging and heartbreaking year for family and friends of Andrea but one they have also spent thinking of all the laughs and smiles she brought them while she was here.

Her brother Ryan Roberts said above anything else this was a celebration to remember a wonderful mother of three.

Roberts said, “Every time I think about Andrea, I think about that smile. Her smile was infectious and I hope anybody that knew her could get together tonight and - just be nice to see everybody there in remembrance of Andrea celebrating her life."

Ryan says his family is thankful to Nikki Richardson who owns Deja Vu and organized the event. She was a great friend of Andrea's.

The family encouraged everyone to attend. They said they couldn't have made it through this tragedy without the community's help.

In addition to Andrea Kruger, Nikko Jenkins also murdered Curtis Bradford, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz and Juan Uribe-Pena, all within 10 days.

The killings began within a month after Jenkins was released from prison. He has yet to be sentenced.