Family, friends gather in Detroit to remember 5-year-old killed in case of child abuse

DETROIT – A vigil was held for the 5-year-old Detroit boy who died within the baby abuse case that’s led to requires change.

Household and pals gathered Saturday exterior the Detroit home the place police say Ethan Belcher was killed on Jan. 22.

“He hasn’t even been laid to relaxation but,” Ethan’s aunt, Ashley Belcher, stated. “We haven’t had our closure but both.”

Ethan’s mother and stepdad have been charged with homicide, baby abuse and torture in his dying.

The troubling baby abuse case has gotten the eye of lawmakers in Lansing, because the household desires to understand how this might have occurred after they reported the abuse to police and CPS a 12 months earlier.

Learn: Lethal abuse of 5-year-old boy has Michigan senator working to alter CPS info regulation

In the course of the vigil, Ethan’s great-aunt, Jennifer Skeens, shared an emotional message.

“Ethan, you’ll all the time stay in all of our hearts eternally and we are going to all struggle so that you can have change for all youngsters in order that no different baby must be abused and undergo what you went by,” Skeens stated. “No baby deserves that. We are going to struggle for change so all kids will likely be protected in their very own houses. God bless you, Ethan.”

There’s a GoFundMe web page for the household to cowl funeral bills for Ethan. If you want to donate to the fundraiser, click on right here.

Further protection:

Additionally: ‘A home of terror’: What officers are saying about CPS after 5-year-old was killed in Detroit