Vigil held four years after boy’s body recovered in Jefferson City
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Community members came together Sunday, four years after 4-year-old Darnell Gray's body was found in Jefferson City.
Gray's caregiver Quatavia Givens was charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in his death. Public court records show a two-week trial for Givens is scheduled to start on March 13, 2023.
A group of women from the non-profit organization Missouri Missing have been meeting every year at Washington Park and said they will continue to fight for Darnell and fight for justice.
"He's loved. She might have not loved him but we need her to see there's a community that stands behind Darnell gray," Mary William-Coley with Missouri Missing said.
The community still carries the pain from four years ago.
"We can inspire people we can lean on one another for help," William-Coley said.
Police and a search party looked for Darnell for six days after Givens reported him missing. Darnell’s body was found hidden in the area of the 2100 block of Louis Circle with multiple blunt force and stabbing injuries.
"So we need to let her know, we still stand, we still stand for Darnell," William-Coley said.
Darnell was first reported missing on October 25, 2018, by his caregiver Quatavia Givens. Givens initially told police Darnell wandered away or was taken, and she was a part of the search party. Givens eventually confessed to his murder.
Willian-Coley had a message for Givens.
"We didn't give up searching for him and we will not give up for his justice," William-Coley said.
