As the annual Dogwood Festival hits full swing in Piedmont Park, reminders of the horrific crime that took place nearly 10 days ago remains in the form of a memorial at the park’s entrance.

Atlanta police continue to look for leads on who may have stabbed Katie Janness and her dog to death just inside the Charles Allen Drive entrance to the park. It’s one reason why if you go to the park this weekend, you are likely to see more officers.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Dogwood Festival is the first major event held at the park since the stabbing incident. Atlanta police have increased their presence around the park to make sure festival attendees can feel safe.

Channel 2′s Michael Seiden spoke to several festival goers Friday night, including Dallas and Janice Brown who have always made visiting the Festival part of a family tradition.

“We like the entertainment they have and all the different kinds of foods, arts and crafts,” Dallas Brown said.

“We’re praying for her and her dog you know, her family and everything,” Dallas said.

“It’s so heartbreaking you know, coming out and seeing it. But I had second thoughts, you know,” Janice said.

Seiden spoke to others who felt the same way.

“I see the presence of the police and it is safe now. But I don’t think it was always that way,” said one Festival attendee.

Others say they are being proactive about their security, just in case.

I mean, if we’ve been here and so being surrounded by a whole bunch of different people, definitely helps,” said another Festival attendee. “I mean, I can’t be afraid and think that it’s gonna happen but at the end of the day, I still brought some pepper spray.”

RELATED STORIES:

• APD speaks with possible witnesses in deadly stabbing in Piedmont Park
• Partner of woman killed in Piedmont Park feels lost without her ‘favorite person in the world’
• Officials warn people not to visit Piedmont Park alone at night until killer is caught

Seiden spent some time Friday talking with Katie’s wife Emma Clark. Clark found Janess’s body at the park and told Seiden she is absolutely heartbroken and devastated.

“Katie is one of a kind. She was a kind person every day she would make up a song for walking the dogs or washing the dishes or doing the laundry,” Clark said. “She was just always really fun to be around.”

Clark also said that despite the challenges of the investigation, she’s very confident justice will be served.

“I don’t want people to forget about Katie and I want them to forget about what happened,” Clark said. “I want them to figure out you know who did this and and catch this person.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Clark told Seiden the Dogwood Festival was an event the couple had always wanted to attend. But with their jobs in the restaurant industry, they always found themselves working during the busy weekend.

©2021 Cox Media Group