Tonight a candlelight vigil was held for Izabella Loving, a five year old girl found dead in her home.
Officers say Izabella Loving's body showed signs of trauma when they found her inside her bedroom.
The community gathered together tonight to honor her memory.
We spoke to some community members tonight that told us about their experience with Izabella and her family.
Kayla Weaver & Felicia Peterson told us they knew the family by association because their children cheered on a team with Izabella's older siblings.
Peterson goes on to say, "Just going to cheer and watching them - and we see all the other kids playing and she wasn't allowed to play. And they kind of kept her really secluded and away from everybody. And if anyone tried to talk to her at all they would shut it down real quick. Even to the point where if she was cold, somebody would offer her a blanket and they wouldn't even take a blanket for her - so you know it's just really sad."
She adds more about how the family treated Izabella, saying, "Definitely different than the other children and - I only went to cheer with them here and there throughout the season - so for me to notice it and not be here every day and to notice it on the few times I did see them it was like, imagine every day. So that was a rude awakening, and everyone in this community says 'Gosh, I should have done more, I wish I could have done more, we should have done this, should have done that' - and now that it's done everyone is beating themselves up I think."
Both women told us the community feels like the family fooled them. According to them, there were multiple reports made by Child Protective Services by the community; but since Izabella died, the community here tells us they feel like they failed the little girl - and they're heartbroken.
Over at Izabella's home, all over the streets you can see written messages on the sidewalk for her; as well as placed candles, drawings and stuffed animals everywhere in memory of her.
There will be more events for Izabella this weekend for the community to participate in, on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at:
- Cold Springs - Village Center Park
- Stead - Chevron on Stead Blvd.
- Lemmon Valley - Lemmon Valley Park
- Sun Valley/Golden Valley - Scolari's parking lot
- Fernley - Raley's
- Carson City - Mills Park
During this time, event coordinators are asking people to keep their porch lights on for Izabella. They encourage people to replace their bulbs with pink and purple lights as those were her favorite colors; or blue as the symbol for child abuse.
