Trinity Love Jones, 9-year-old found dead in duffel bag, celebrated at memorial service
The short life of 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones, whose body was found in a duffel bag in Hacienda Heights, California, was celebrated at an interfaith memorial service on Monday.
Mourners gathered at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in front of a small, pastel casket topped with white and pink flowers.
Those attending Monday's service in Hacienda Heights were invited to wear bright, cheerful colors to celebrate Trinity's "young and vibrant life," her father, Antonio Jones, said on Facebook.
Trinity's body was discovered by county workers on March 5 near an equestrian trail.
She was unidentified at the time and investigators released sketches as they urged the public to help identify her.
Trinity's mother, Taquesta Graham, and Graham's boyfriend, Emiel Lamar Hunt, have been arrested and are accused of killing the little girl.
"Destruction and darkness will inevitably occur. But it will not extinguish the life of Jesus Christ," the Rev. Egren Gomez said at Monday's service. "Today Trinity comes down from heaven and blesses the darkness with her eternal light."
Trinity was "a unique, gifted, charismatic, beautiful, life of the party young girl" who suffered a "premature" death, Pastor Darnell Hammock said at the service.
"I have no answer for why," he said.
"This precious 9-year-old girl at her own celebration of life has been able to gather people from all walks of life. Something has to be said about this brilliant young life with the capacity to transcend generational borders and surpass economic, religious and even political party affiliations," Hammock said. "Those who know her well would argue they're not surprised about the surplus of people in attendance today."
Funeral attendees were also invited to bring a new children's book to be donated in Trinity's memory to children in need, Trinity's father said.
The service will be followed by a burial in Rowland Heights.
Friends and family will then meet at the Hacienda Heights Community Center "where food, love and memories of Trinity Love Jones will be shared," said Antonio Jones.
Graham and Hunt are due to appear in court on April 16.
Authorities have not disclosed Trinity's cause of death.
