VANCOUVER, Wash. — On a chilly night in Vancouver, a crowd of dozens gathered to remember 5-year-old Hartley Anderson.
“Hartley was an incredibly special girl, she was sweet, sassy, spunky,” Nataasha Luchau, Harltey’s mother, said.
Speaking for the very first time since her daughter's death, Nataasha recalls Hartley's love for singing and dancing.
“Her free spirit touched everyone who knew her,” she said.
The large community turnout at Friday night's candlelight vigil to show support did not go unnoticed by family.
“Everybody is supporting us and hoping for justice for Hartley,” Tim Luchau, Hartley’s grandfather, said.
Justice for Hartley who detectives say was murdered by her mom's boyfriend.
Ryan Burge,37, was watching the girl last Friday when she suffered significant head trauma while in his care and later died, police said.
“This week was really hard and I wish I could say it's going to get easier but it's not.” Whitney Luchau, Hartley’s Aunt, said.
Losing a child is never easy and nobody more so than Hartley’s mom.
“Hartley you'll always be in our hearts, I love you so much, we'll never stop fighting for justice for you,” Nataasha said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Hartley's family.