Stephanie Ramos

Lauren says her dad could be spontaneous.

She showed me pictures of the two of them together.

This is the Montgomery County Fair.

I was home from college, and my dad and I just said, let's go to the fair.

So off they went, did all the rides.

In the picture, Lauren's leaning on Sandy's shoulder, both of them holding fried food and grinning.

That's the kind of father my dad was.

He'd, on a dime, he would say, if I said, let's go to the fair, he'd be like, let's go to the fair.

Before she worked at the advertising company, Lauren's mom had been a court reporter.

Sandy worked at a consultancy firm, a suit and tie job dealing with defense contracts.

The three of them moved into the house on Drummond Avenue in 1993 when Lauren was in high school.

What was Lauren like back then?

Bryce Thomas was one of Lauren Prier's best friends back then.

They're still close today.

When Lauren was in high school, she and her friends would congregate at the Prier house.

The whole gang got to know Leslie and Sandy Prier.

The couple seemed solid.

They were a rare mix, interested in their daughter's life, but cool enough to hang out with.

The core group that was often together included Lauren, Bryce, Lauren's best friend Lisa, and Lauren's boyfriend, Eugene, a kid from the neighborhood.

The pictures Lauren showed me include awkward teen group photos, but also a lot of her and her parents.