COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As people started arriving at Restoration Church in Colorado Springs, they were already filled with sadness.
Hundreds of community members came together Sunday afternoon to remember 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, whose stepmother was arrested and suspected of killing the missing boy.
DeeDee Williams has been a member of the church since last October. Although she never met Stauch or his family, she wanted to be at the memorial to show her support.
"The heaviness on my heart for the family and for the little boy. He's so innocent. He didn't deserve it," Williams said.
Karen Haskins also attended the memorial and said her grandson used to play with Stauch before he disappeared almost six weeks ago.
"I never got angry when he was around because there was harmony; he created harmony," Haskins said.
Even though both women say they didn't know the family personally, they hope their support shows them that they are not alone.
For Williams, it's hard not to think about her own grandson and the pain the Stauch family is feeling.
"He's just a baby, but he'll be 11 years old someday, and I would never want him to go through anything like that," she said.
The church has also started a fundraiser, with all the money going to Al Stauch, Gannon's dad.