Vigil held for murdered 11-year-old girl whose dead body was discovered stuffed in a trash bag under a bed

Dozens of mourners attended a vigil for Maria Gonzalez, the Guatemalan lady who was discovered strangled to loss of life in her father’s condominium in Texas final week.

Associates, family members and neighbors got here collectively in Pasadena, exterior Houston, Friday night to mourn the 11-year-old lady who was raped, strangled and killed final week, in response to stories.

Police in Pasadena launched a photograph of Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez, an 18-year-old Guatemalan migrant they’re calling an individual of curiosity within the case.

Garcia-Rodriguez lives on the identical condominium advanced because the sufferer, and a key discovered on the crime scene works on a door to the residence the place he had been staying.

Final Saturday, Maria messaged her father that somebody was knocking on their door.

When he returned from work, Carmelo Gonzalez found his daughter stuffed in a trash bag that was positioned inside a laundry bin beneath a mattress.

“This actually touched my coronary heart,” mentioned Lupita Hernandez, who attended the vigil, in an interview with Fox 26. 

“As you’ll be able to see, I simply got here from work. I felt like I needed to be right here.”

The lady’s father, Carmelo Gonzalez, mentioned he was grateful for the help.

Maria Gonzalez lived alone along with her father.

The lady’s mother and a sister live in Guatemala, in response to stories.

“Thanks for being with me today,” he advised mourners.

“These are robust occasions. I’ve no extra phrases to say. Thanks for being with me.”