NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — With candles, pictures, posters and balloons, a community remembered the sweet smile of 11-year-old Heaven Watkins.
“She was our next door neighbor and my niece came out and played with her all the time,” said neighbor Dayna Arnold.
Heaven’s mother and the mother’s boyfriend were charged with murder this week.
10 On Your Side told you Thursday the Medical Examiner’s Office said Heaven died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso.
Her mother will remain behind bars until trial.
“Once we heard the charges it’s like, I don’t believe this is happening, I can’t believe that someone is that cold-hearted that they would do this to an 11-year-old child with cerebral palsy,” said Arnold.
People who didn’t even know little Heaven came out to the vigil.
Neighbors held hands praying for her and for a stop to child abuse.
“It kind of gets me choked up because they took time out of their day to come and say goodbye and show respect for her someone they didn’t know, especially a child,” said Arnold.
Neighbors wrote their goodbyes to Heaven on balloons and released them with one final message:
“Rest in peace, Heaven!”
