Her Story Will Not Be Silenced
Makayla Renee Settles was 18 years old when her life ended in December 2025.
She was more than a headline. More than a court case. More than the circumstances surrounding her death.
She was loved. She had a future. And her life mattered.
In July 2025, Makayla moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, to California to live with her biological father and attend college. Shortly after arriving, Makayla reported that she had been sexually assaulted by him.
The allegations became the subject of a criminal investigation. Her biological father has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him. The criminal proceedings surrounding Makayla's allegations and the circumstances of the case remain matters for the justice system.
Months later, at only 18 years old, Makayla died by suicide.
Her death meant that a young woman who had once been able to speak for herself could no longer stand in a courtroom and tell her story.
But losing Makayla does not mean her story has to disappear.
Why We Created This
Justice for Makayla Renee was created to keep Makayla's name and memory alive, raise awareness about her story, and support the family's continuing call for accountability and justice.
The shirts sold here aren't simply merchandise.
They're conversation starters.
When someone sees #MakaylaRene, we want them to ask:
Who was Makayla?
And we want that question to lead to her story being told again.
We want people to remember the young woman behind the headlines. We want conversations about sexual assault, survivors, accountability, mental health, and the devastating consequences that trauma can have to continue long after a news cycle ends.
Most importantly, we don't want Makayla to become another name people once heard and eventually forgot.
Say Her Name
We cannot rewrite Makayla's story.
But we can refuse to allow it to be forgotten.
We can speak when she no longer can.
We can continue asking questions.
We can continue raising awareness.
We can continue saying her name.
Makayla Renee Settles.
Her life mattered.
Her story matters.
And her name deserves to be remembered.
#MakaylaRene