Near Hunter’s Creek Middle School, the community gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of Madeline Soto, a missing teen who was found dead on Friday. What was supposed to be a community prayer in the hopes of getting Soto back home turned into a vigil once we learned they found Soto’s body.Still, dozens of people came out to pray and to mourn.The community is grieving the death of one of their own and still trying to come to terms with the fact that Soto is gone. “I didn’t know Maddie personally, but it still hurts me because it could have been any of my friends, but she’s still one of my — I feel like she’s family,” student Sofia Torres said. Religious leaders held a vigil at Hunter’s Creek Middle School Friday night — the same school Soto was supposed to show up to on Monday but never made it.”The Bible teaches us that we have to cry with those who cry and love with those who love. So now, we will cry for those who cry. We will mourn for those who mourn. And we will be able to give a message of hope and knowing that God is in control through it all,” said Hector Gaby Melendez, the Unity & Fire Church International pastor.Parents, students, and community members showed up, laying flowers, candles, and balloons down in honor of Soto. “It’s heartbreaking and saddening to kind of see this happening. Your children are supposed to be protected, and in this case, she was exposed,” parent Kevin Rickson said. Many are still in disbelief that this happened. “It hit me very hard knowing this could happen to a child, a young girl in my neighborhood. I look at it as if it was my own daughter, you know what I mean,” parent Nina Castro said. But through faith and support, even with this tragedy, the community will still be able to rely on each other.Parents are definitely holding their children a little closer, but the people WESH 2 spoke to say now it’s about letting the death investigation continue and finding closure.The Orange County Public Schools superintendent released a statement on the teen’s death:”I am heartbroken to hear from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office of the tragic death of our precious student, Madeline Soto. My thoughts and prayers go out to Maddie’s family and her school community,” said Maria Vazquez, the OCPS superintendent. “To lose a child so suddenly and tragically is extremely difficult especially for family and friends. Counselors continue to be available for any student or staff member dealing with the news. I ask that you keep the entire Hunter’s Creek Middle School community in your prayers as they grieve the loss of one of their own.” Top headlines: Officials: Body of missing Central Florida 13-year-old found 2024 hurricane season brings new risks: WESH long-range forecast reveals crucial ‘hot spots’ for Florida Expert responds after Gov. DeSantis says Citizens Property Insurance is ‘not solvent’
Near Hunter’s Creek Middle School, the community gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of Madeline Soto, a missing teen who was found dead on Friday.
What was supposed to be a community prayer in the hopes of getting Soto back home turned into a vigil once we learned they found Soto’s body.
Still, dozens of people came out to pray and to mourn.
The community is grieving the death of one of their own and still trying to come to terms with the fact that Soto is gone.
“I didn’t know Maddie personally, but it still hurts me because it could have been any of my friends, but she’s still one of my — I feel like she’s family,” student Sofia Torres said.
Religious leaders held a vigil at Hunter’s Creek Middle School Friday night — the same school Soto was supposed to show up to on Monday but never made it.
“The Bible teaches us that we have to cry with those who cry and love with those who love. So now, we will cry for those who cry. We will mourn for those who mourn. And we will be able to give a message of hope and knowing that God is in control through it all,” said Hector Gaby Melendez, the Unity & Fire Church International pastor.
Parents, students, and community members showed up, laying flowers, candles, and balloons down in honor of Soto.
“It’s heartbreaking and saddening to kind of see this happening. Your children are supposed to be protected, and in this case, she was exposed,” parent Kevin Rickson said.
Many are still in disbelief that this happened.
“It hit me very hard knowing this could happen to a child, a young girl in my neighborhood. I look at it as if it was my own daughter, you know what I mean,” parent Nina Castro said.
But through faith and support, even with this tragedy, the community will still be able to rely on each other.
Parents are definitely holding their children a little closer, but the people WESH 2 spoke to say now it’s about letting the death investigation continue and finding closure.
The Orange County Public Schools superintendent released a statement on the teen’s death:
“I am heartbroken to hear from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office of the tragic death of our precious student, Madeline Soto. My thoughts and prayers go out to Maddie’s family and her school community,” said Maria Vazquez, the OCPS superintendent. “To lose a child so suddenly and tragically is extremely difficult especially for family and friends. Counselors continue to be available for any student or staff member dealing with the news. I ask that you keep the entire Hunter’s Creek Middle School community in your prayers as they grieve the loss of one of their own.”
Top headlines:
