Wearing sweatshirts with an image of recently deceased 2-year-old Koralynn Fister, Megan Cunha, right , of Centralia, and Jacklyn Wachal, of Tenino, hold candles and sing "Amazing Grace" at the Koralynn Fister candlelight vigil held on Monday.
Koralynn Fister
A man and child hold a candle in remembrance of Koralynn Fister at a candlelight vigil at George Washington Park in Centralia Monday night.
David Fister, right, the biological father of the deceased Koralynn Fister, stands next to his mother Sandy Fister behind a table full of pictures of Koralynn and a guest book at a vigil for the girl at George Washington Park in Centralia on Monday night.
David Fister , right, father of recently deceased Koralynn Fister, stands with friends as they sing "Amazing Grace" at a candle light vigil for Koralynn on Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
David Fister lights a candle and places it on a table with photos of his recently deceased daughter Koralynn Fister as his mother Sandy Fister looks on during a candle light vigil in memory of Koralynn at George Washington Park in Centralia on Monday.
David Fister, the father of Koralynn Fister, holds a candle as his mother, Sandy Fister, stands next to him at a candlelight vigil for his daughter Koralynn on Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
David Fister holds a candle as he stands next to his mother Sandy Fister during a candle light vigil in memory of Koralynn on Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
David Fister, father of 2-year-old Koralynn Fister, stands next to his mother, Sandy Fister, with a table full of pictures of his daughter in the foreground at a candlelight vigil Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
David Fister receives condolences from mourners at a candlelight vigil for his daughter on Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
More than 200 hundred people showed up to for a candlelight vigil in memory 2-year-old Koralynn Fister on Monday at George Washington Park in Centralia.
About 250 people came together to pray, cry and mourn the death of 2-year-old Koralynn Fister during a candlelight vigil in downtown Centralia Monday night.
Koralynn, or “Monkey” as she was referred to by some of her family, reportedly died of abuse last Thursday.
Candles lined the paths of George Washington Park where the family of Koralynn, along with friends and community members, gathered to share a moment of silence.
Some wore blue ribbons on their chests to show their support for protecting children. Many cried. Everyone held a candle.
“During the moment of silence all I could hear was all the little kids,” said David Fister, Koralynn’s biological father. “And I don’t have mine.”
Koralynn was living with her mother, sibling and mother’s boyfriend at the time of her death. She was pronounced dead Thursday after her mother’s boyfriend, James Maurice Reeder, 25, brought her body to a neighbor’s home, claiming she had drowned in a bathtub.
The autopsy of Koralynn, however, revealed extensive injuries to the girl that indicated prolonged abuse, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office. Koralynn’s mother, Becky Heupel, was not home at the time of her death.
Reeder is being held in the Lewis County Jail as investigators continue to gather evidence pointing to the possibility of rape and murder charges, according to court documents.
Koralynn’s sibling has been placed in Child Protective Services as the investigation grinds on.
“We realized from this that there is evil in this world,” said Joe Bouchard, who spoke at the vigil.
Each year there are more than three million cases of child abuse and neglect, he said.
“We can recognize that these children can’t speak for themselves,” Bouchard said. “We can be their eyes and ears.”
Family members of Koralynn described her as being an energetic child girl an infectious laugh and smile.
“She was the happiest little girl,” David Fister said. “She was always playing and laughing.”
At the vigil, in addition to sharing a moment of silence, everyone collectively sang “Amazing Grace.” At the end of the song, everyone blew out their candles and balloons were released into the sky.
David Fister thanked the community for their continuing love and support toward his family and Koralynn, and asked that everyone watch out for children, whether it be their own or someone else's.
“Never forget about abuse and neglect,” he said.
The manner of Koralynn’s death was ruled a homicide by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office Friday afternoon. Drowning and blunt force head trauma were identified as the cause of death.
The mother’s boyfriend, Reeder, who has not yet been charged with a crime, will appear in court for a review hearing Tuesday at 4 p.m. His bail has been set at $5 million.
Prosecutors have indicated that Reeder will be charged with multiple counts of rape and assault.
