Community Helps Grieving Parents Of Murdered 9-Year-Old Girl
TELFORD, Pa. (CBS) - One by one, neighbors dropped off donations to benefit the family of Skyler Kauffman, the 9-year-old girl found murdered last week.
This weekend, Telford volunteer firefighters wanted to show their support to help Skyler's grieving parents.
"She was 9-years-old.," said Skyler's mother. "An innocent child. What did she ever do to him?"
That "him" she is referring to is 24-year-old Jim Troutman. He remains behind bars this weekend, charged with murdering and raping little Skyler.
Robin Rieger reports...
Police found Skyler's body in the bottom of a dumpster right behind the apartment complex where Skyler lived.
Skyler's mother says Easter weekend, Troutman, who also lived in the apartment complex, locked her daughter and another girl inside his bathroom. She says police did nothing.
"It's killing me," said Skyler's mother. "If they would have done something, my daughter would still be here."
Troutman's now ex-fiancé, Heather Clemens confirmed, that Troutman did let the girls inside the apartment Easter weekend, to use the bathroom.
A memorial ceremony was held for Kaufman earlier tonight. Hundreds lined up outside a Telford funeral home to say their final goodbyes.
"She was just a very happy little girl, very friendly, always willing to talk to whoever wanted to talk," one mourner said.
An estimated 700 people showed up for the viewing, many saying they feel helpless, and wish they could do more to help her loved ones deal with the loss.
"The closing of the casket was hard, very hard." And friends hope Skyler is at peace, "That's my prayer for her, just to be a happy little girl in heaven."
The explanations as to why police say Troutman killed Skyler don't make any sense to a community still in shock over the loss of a young, helpless little girl.
Reported by Jericka Duncan, CBS 3
