Family of Webster Lockerbie bombing victim speaks after suspect taken into U.S. custody

WEBSTER, N.Y. A local family who lost a loved one in the bombing is reacting to that suspect being taken into U.S. custody.

News10NBC spoke with the father of the Webster woman who was killed in that attack.

Bob Hunt is the father of Karen Lee Hunt, who was from Webster and was one of the Syracuse students killed on board. He said it’s a relief a suspect is finally in custody.

“The inkling of information I received early yesterday morning, an email from the Department of Justice saying that the suspect was in custody,” Bob said.

Bob said he has known about the Lockerbie suspected Libyan bomber for the last six to seven years. Monday night, he said it’s a feeling of hope that man is now on American soil.

“Him being brought to justice if, in fact, he was the bomb maker, then yes that is definitely a positive,” Bob said.

Bob’s daughter Karen Lee Hunt was among the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Karen was a Syracuse University student studying English and journalism and was one of 35 students on the plane returning from a semester abroad.

“She was a very caring and loving person,” Bob said. “Never said a bad word or a bad thought about anyone. Everybody who knew her loved her and she just exuded love that we all wish we could do 365 days a year. That’s why she was held in such a high regard.”

However, Bob said the fight for justice ends now.

“We are hoping that he will shed the light and the other people who were involved in the tragedy in this murder of 190 Americans and 270 people,” he said.

He said out of every tragedy always something positive happens. Leaning on their faith, friends, family and the families of the other victims.

“Every year they lay roses for the remembrance convocation for the 35 SU students and there’s a student that represents each one of the students,” Bob said. “So every year we get to meet the scholar who represents Karen and, amazingly, every one of those people exude the same positive attributes that Karen did.”

Also among the victims was Lorraine Frances Halsch of Fairport and two University of Rochester students studying abroad, Eric Coker and Katharine Hollister.