2 Years Later, Jayna Murray's Friends, Family 'Still Healing'

It was on March 12, 2011, that the body of Lululemon employee Jayna Murray, 30, was discovered in the back of the popular Bethesda Row athletic store.

The murder case that unfolded would leave the Bethesda community at first in fear, and later in shock as the story of masked attackers offered to police by her co-worker, Brittany Norwood, unraveled.

Norwood now stands convicted of murdering Murray, and will spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors said Norwood cut, stabbed, and bludgeoned Murray more than 330 times after Murray discovered her attempting to steal a pair of yoga pants.

Patch was on the scene that March Saturday two years ago, and we've followed the case in the months and years since, bringing you breaking news and updates, and covering the impact of the crime on Murray's friends and family and on the Bethesda community.

To see how the story unfolded, click here for a timeline of events in the case.

For Murray's friends, her loss is still palpable. Friends have described her as vivacious and outgoing—always willing to encourage those close to her to take on a challenge, even if it meant overcoming a fear.

As the second anniversary of Murray's death, March 11, approached, friends took to her memorial Facebook page to share memories. Many changed their Facebook profile pictures to showcase images of Murray.

"Never far from my thoughts," wrote Tara McCluskey.

"Tomorrow I will be celebrating my 32[nd] birthday as well as the life of a friend whose life was taken way too soon," wrote Noell Myska.

"Almost two years—I still miss you beautiful friend," wrote Michelle Greenhalgh.

Two years later, many of Murray's friends are still healing, wrote friend and Washington, DC-based singer-songwriter Brian Franke in a message to Patch. A year ago, Franke recorded a tribute song to Murray and re-posted it again Monday as a tribute to his friend.

The song, titled "A piece of happiness," can be heard here (click on the orange icon above) with permission from Franke.

"I wrote the song to honor Jayna and how much she meant to everyone, which always brings up happy memories," Franke wrote.

Are you honoring Jayna Murray on the second anniversary of her death? Has the Bethesda community changed in the two years since the murder? Tell us in the comments.