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

Caylee Anthony Remembered at Vigil

I wish I could've been there to honor that little girl... And that butterfly... That's Caylee's spirit.
ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- A small group of people gathered Tuesday to remember Caylee Anthony, whose remains were found in December, on the anniversary of the 2-year-old's disappearance.


At a park in Orlando, Florida, members of a Facebook group formed in Caylee's memory asked Richard Grund to lead the gathering. Grund's son, Jessie, was engaged at one time to the girl's mother, Casey Anthony, who has been charged with Caylee's murder.

Grund told about 30 people gathered under the park pavilion near the children's playground that he believed it was important to remember Caylee in a park and not at the location where her remains were found.

Grund said it was important to hold "a memorial to remember Caylee to mark this day to remember her as a little girl, to remember her joy and laughter."

Caylee Anthony's story played out daily on cable news talk shows and Orlando's local media for the past year.

Grund told the small group the focus needs to be taken off the legal issues and put back on Caylee.

George Anthony, Caylee's grandfather, saw his granddaughter leave his house with her mother, Casey Anthony, for the last time on June 15, 2008. Officials allege Caylee was killed by Casey Anthony a short time later.

Since her arrest in November for murder, Anthony, 23, has remained behind bars in Orlando. The state attorney's office has said it would seek the death penalty against Anthony.

Caylee's whereabouts were a mystery until December 11, when a meter-reader brought out a bag containing a skull from a wooded area behind a home on the same street as the Anthonys.

The meter-reader said he had contacted police three times in August to say he had seen a suspicious bag in the area. A deputy was ultimately fired for not properly searching the area.

The remains were confirmed through DNA testing to be Caylee Anthony.

The case has left an "open wound" in the community, said Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary, but he thinks closure will not come until after trial.

At the vigil, Maloney Rousseau came with her 2-year-old granddaughter.

"When I saw those big brown eyes, I was just hooked, Rousseau said regarding Caylee. "I think it's terrible what happened to her."

The group offered a tearful rendition of, "You Are My Sunshine," a song Caylee was heard singing on a video played dozens of times on television and on the Internet.

At the end of the vigil, butterflies were released in memory of murdered and missing children. One butterfly flew and landed on a flower arrangement provided in memory of Caylee Anthony.