It's only been 24 hours since Nalani Johnson's body was discovered at Pine Ridge Park in Indiana County, but community members are already working to make sure she's never forgotten.
Nalani hadn't even turned 2 years old yet when she was the subject of an Amber Alert. Police say that Saturday night she was kidnapped in Penn Hills and taken more than an hour away to Pine Ridge Park.
You can customize your WPXI News App to receive breaking news alerts. CLICK HERE to find out how.
"I can't even comprehend the loss for this family whatsoever. Just realizing wow, you never know what's in your backyard," Denise Sickon said.
A makeshift memorial is already growing in the park, but people are hoping to create something more permanent.
>>RELATED: What we know about abducted toddler Nalani Johnson
"We have a donation of a marble bench from Shoemaker Monuments, we also had Ferguson Funeral Home offer a discounted bench and the VFW offer to pay for that bench," Danielle Bouy said.
There's even an online petition circulating to get the park renamed for Nalani's or have a playground built in her memory.
"I feel like the park shouldn't be remembered for something bad. It should be remembered and celebrated like she should be celebrated," Bouy said.
Visitation and funeral services have been arraigned for Nalani, according to Coston Funeral Homes, Inc. Visitation will be held at Mt Ararat Baptist Church on Paulson Avenue in Larimer on Saturday, Sept. 7 at from 10 a.m. to noon. Funeral services will be held at Noon.
RELATED:
- Missing toddler found dead in Blairsville, sources tell Channel 11
- Woman at center of Amber Alert told police toddler's father was planning to sell her
- What we know about abducted toddler Nalani Johnson
- Prayer event held as the search continues for toddler at the center of Amber Alert
- What we know about Sharena Nancy, woman charged with abduction of toddler
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
