RIVER FALLS, Wisconsin (KSTP) - Friends, family and even strangers took part in a vigil for the three River Falls girls found dead in their home Tuesday, at their elementary school in River Falls on Wednesday (7/11) night. Dozens dropped off cards, drawings and flowers.
Amara, Sophie and Cecilia. Remembered with white ribbons, symbolizing the innocence lost.
Amara's soccer coach, Jeff Parsons remembered her saying, "Just a wonderful girl full of energy and spirit and laughter. We're going to miss her."
Jeff Parsons coached Amara on a traveling soccer team for five years. Her teammates remembered number 36 by writing notes to her on soccer ball which was then given to her mom Jessica.
Hunter Wahus, Amara's friend says, " I would probably say that I'll miss her forever and she'll always be my best friend."
Another teammate chimed in, "Amara always had a smile on her face and loved being around people."
There were candles and moments of silence at a vigil in honor of the girls. But most of all there were tears. After a day when parents tried to explain how a dad could be in jail --accused of killing his girls.
Vigil Organizer, Juli Matzke says, "We told her that a bad man took the three girls and he was sick and we were going to heal together."
There is no way to fully understand... at any age.
So people allow their pain to flow, and in every parents' tears, every embrace, you could almost see the love and thoughts being sent to the girls' mom, Jessica Schaffhausen.
"And now her mom has to carry on without three daughters, it's very sad," Parsons tearfully added.
The two oldest girls went to the Elementary School, the youngest would've started kindergarten in the fall.
