TROY - A year ago cop cars rushed to 158 Second Ave -- their blue and red lights reflecting off of the white multi-family home.

The bodies of Brandi Mells, 22; Shanta Myers, 36; Jeremiah Myers, 11; and Shanise Myers, 5, who were brutally slain in the basement apartment, were removed.

In the days following the murders a makeshift memorial formed -- stuffed animals, lit candles and even an angel made from the freshly fallen snow were in the front yard.

A year has passed since the quadruple homicide, the snow has melted and the candles have extinguished, but the mourning and memories of the slain family continues.

"People are here all the time," Doreen Thompson, a neighbor and friend of Shanta Myers said near the memorial Monday. "People will park their car and stop by and just hang out here."

She said that just the other day a large group from the Troy Boys and Girls Club, where Jeremiah and Shanise often participated in activities and sports, gathered outside the home for a candlelight vigil on the year anniversary, Friday Dec. 21.

The bodies of Shanta Myers, her two young children and her fiancee's bodies were discovered on Dec. 26 when a property manager checked on them because they had not been heard from since Dec. 22.

They had been tied up in the basement and their throats slashed, police said.

The killings left Myers' eldest son Isaiah Smith, who was 15 at the time of the murders, without his mother and siblings.

On Dec. 29, 2017, Justin Mann and James White were arrested in Schenectady for the murders.

The defendants are both charged with nine counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree robbery and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

The indictment accused the men of stealing an Xbox video game system and flat screen television from the apartment. Eight of the first-degree murder counts are related to the robbery and burglary charges.

As of earlier this month a trial date for the case had not yet been set.

In the days and weeks following the deaths, friends, family and colleagues shared memories of victims with the Times Union.

Shanta Myers was remembered as a hard working mother who had a love for cooking, constantly sharing recipes with friends. Myers met Mells while working at Joseph's House, a nonprofit organization serving the homeless in Troy.

Mells was described by family as an easygoing and loving person.

Jeremiah was a basketball star who wanted to joint the NBA when he grew up -- friends of his said he probably would have achieved that dream.

Shanise was described as a "mama's girl" who was set to start kindergarten that fall.

Both children had beaming smiles and described as "shining stars."

"Lots of people miss them," Thompson said.

Thompson looked over at the memorial which had new additions to it -- recently used candles, a children's book, balloons still floating and candy canes and red ornaments hanging off of the bush.

"They will never be forgotten," she said.

sara.cline@timesunion.com • 518-454-5420