Family and Friends Hold Vigil for Nevaeh

ABC News- Family and friends came together to remember a little girl and remind everyone that her killer is still on the run.

Nearly one year ago, 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan disappeared. Days later, fishermen found her body on the banks of the River Raisin. Investigators say the girl was buried alive. Last night, family and friends gathered for a vigil.

Nevaeh's great aunt Diana Lawson says, "It's been tough here. It is almost May 24. It's gong to be a year. We are trying our best and we want it to be solved. We want this case done."

Around 100 people gathered last night to pray, to offer comfort to Nevaeh's family, and to take action in the hopes of find her killer.

"We're hoping to get the posters out, put them into every store and bring the memories back. Maybe something will jog somebody's memory," says Reverend Dale Hayford from Community Crosswalk Church.

Police aren't commenting on Nevaeh's case. They still have not named a suspect in the five-year-olds death. In the days after she went missing back in May last year, a person of interest surfaced but no charges were filed. Even Nevaeh's mother Jennifer faced scrutiny so much so that she didn't want to go to last night's event; but she eventually changed her mind.

Nevaeh's grandmother Sherry Buchanan says Jennifer "just wants to be left alone right now. The detectives and everybody have cleared her. It's hard for her to get out because people have ridiculed her a lot and she didn't have anything to do with this."

Despite the pain, the family is sticking together with support from the community to find Nevaeh's killer. The group handed out 5,000 award posters. They're prepared to hand out 5,000 more every week until Nevaeh's killer is found. The FBI is offering up to $20,000 for the arrest and conviction of Nevaeh's murder.
Anyone with information can call 734-457-6713

Nancy Grace Jennifer Buchanan Interview

I definitely don't feel Jennifer Buchanan, Neveah's mother, handled her Nancy Grace interview very well.

It was kind of hard having Nancy Grace ask her about her daughter's decomposition right at the start of the interview like that, but once again, she just went on again to defend and focus on George Kennedy, the sex offender friend of hers, and in my opinion, she doesn't seem to be a normally grieving person.

Not that it is a crime.. See the video for yourself.

More Deta

DETROIT -- A body discovered in the River Raisin Thursday is believed to be that of a missing 5-year-old Monroe girl.

Nevaeh Buchanan was last seen May 24 in the parking lot of an apartment complex about 35 miles south-southwest of Detroit.

Her mother, Jennifer Buchanan, told Local 4 that the Monroe County Sheriff's Department informed her late Thursday evening that they believe the body is her daughter.

Ryan Bickley, 15, told Local 4 that his father, Guy Bickley, and grandfather, Lowell Kirk, were fishing on the river near Ida Maybee Road and spotted a block of poured cement and noticed a bad smell.

At first they said they didn't think much about it. After about 2 hours, Bickley said he kicked the concrete and noticed something.

Bickley said he chipped away a piece of the cement, revealing what appeared to be human skin.

"He called me, and he was hysterical," Ryan Bickley said. "He saw flies around it and that it was starting to crack, and when he bent down the smell got really bad."

Bickley said his father quickly backed away and called police.

The discovery site is about 12 miles from the Charlotte Arms Apartment, where her mother said she was outside playing with a friend when she disappeared.

The sheriff's office will hold a 10:30 a.m. press conference Friday to reveal more details.

The community held a vigil on Thursday.

"I'm not giving up yet. I'm not giving up unless I see the body myself. I am not giving up hope yet because I still feel that she is near me," said Nevaeh's grandmother, Sherry Buchanan.

A local pastor held a small memorial service for Nevaeh bringing the crowd to prayers.

"We know Nevaeh is in heaven now. Nevaeh is in heaven with Jesus right now. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. We know there is no pain right now, no sorrow, only joy."

Friends of Nevaeh also spoke tearfully.

"My son is a total tragic mess because of this. He has missed her every single day she has been gone and now he is going to miss her for the rest of his life."

"It could happen to anybody and we hope it don't happen to anybody else," said Nevaeh's cousin, Shawn Lawson.

There have been no arrests in the case.

[Community Reacts To Body Found]

Breaking: Body Found In River Raisin- Is It Neveah?

DETROIT -- Sources told Local 4 FBI investigators have found a body while searching the River Raisin for a missing 5-year-old Monroe girl.

Investigators will not reveal if the body is that of an adult or a child, or release any other identifying factors.

Nevaeh Buchanan was last seen May 24 in the parking lot of an apartment complex about 35 miles south-southwest of Detroit.

Nevaeh is white, under 4 feet tall, weighs 45 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Investigators said acted off a tip to search the area of Ida Maybee and Dixon roads.

There have been no arrests in the case.

Nevaeh Case: Investigators Look for Possible Witnesses At School Playground

MONROE (WTOL) - Sheriff Crutchfield held the daily 11 a.m. news conference on the search for missing 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan.

The latest details as of Tuesday morning June 2 are that the sheriff's department has received several tips about the green van they are looking for. They have not yet located the van or the person(s) driving it. They were looking for that minivan for questioning purposes only, believing the person(s) in the van may have witnessed something helpful to the case.

Sheriff Crutchfield is asking anyone who may have been at the Hollywood School Playground on Sunday, May 24 between 6 and 7 p.m. to please call investigators at (734) 243-7070.

On Tuesday June 1, the Sheriff's Department is following up on the 800 tips they have received. They have no searches planned, however they could change depending on where tips lead them.

The sheriff declined to name who is or is not still a person of interest. George Kennedy remains in jail on unrelated charges of violating parole. The sheriff also said they re still in contact with Jennifer Buchanan, Nevaeh's mother.

Nevaeh Case May Have New Witness

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Monday that it wants to speak with the driver of a green, box-style minivan who may have information in connection with the disappearance of 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan.

The van was parked at the Hollywood School playground behind the Charlotte Arms apartments between 6 and 7 p.m. May 24. That's about the time when Nevaeh disappeared while riding her scooter outside her home in the complex.

"We just have to find the exact window when they were there and what they may have seen when they were there," Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield said Monday.

Meanwhile, a judge set a $250 bond Monday for a third man jailed on an unrelated charge of arson-preparation to burn.

Monroe County District Judge Jack Vitale told James Easter, 64, that he could go free if he posted bond because he has been cleared as a person of interest in Nevaeh's disappearance.

Investigators arrested Easter when they saw him burning something in his backyard about 5 a.m. Sunday, just after he had been questioned about visits to Nevaeh's apartment complex.

"I did burn cardboard. I did have a fire in the back -- not guilty of destroying property," Easter said before being quieted by the judge. Easter later posted bond.

Two other men identified as persons of interest in the Nevaeh case -- George Kennedy and Roy Smith -- are still being held in jail while the Michigan Department of Corrections investigates possible parole violations, MDOC spokesman John Cordell said Monday.

Both are friends of Nevaeh's mother and both are convicted sex offenders whose paroles forbid them from having contact with children or anyone who has children.

Nevaeh is 3 feet 10 inches and weighs 45 pounds. She was wearing a light-blue shirt with red and white stripes and knee-length jeans when she disappeared.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Sheriff's Office at 734-243-7070. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for tips leading to the return of Nevaeh. Call 800-773-2587. Staff writer Zlati Meyer contributed to this story.

Mom Dated Sex Offender

Mom dated sex offender 4:08
The mother of missing Nevaeh Buchanan, 5, dated a sex offender and failed a polygraph test, claiming she was tired.