This week marks three years since the search for a 4-year-old boy captured the attention of Jefferson City and the nation, and later caused heartbreak after the boy's body was recovered.
In October 2018, residents joined the Jefferson City Police Department and other agencies to search for Darnell Gray, who had been reported missing by his babysitter, Quatavia Givens.
A week later, the boy's body was found, and Givens was charged in connection with his disappearance and death. An autopsy showed Gray had suffered multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Shortly after the boy's body was recovered, Mary Williams Coley and Kathy Mueller were among a group of residents who came together under the banner of "Justice for Darnell Gray."
The group is planning to hold a memorial service at 5 p.m. Saturday in Washington Park, where those who searched for Gray gathered back in 2018. They plan to place a concrete memorial, made by Capitol Monuments, in the park to honor Gray's memory during the service.
Coley said they started getting funds for the memorial last year, and the money came from several individuals and groups.
"We want everybody to know that we're not going to forget him," Coley said. "This event touched our hearts, and it could have happened to anyone."
A week after the boy's body was found, Givens allegedly admitted she had injured the boy while babysitting him. Givens, 28, was charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.
On Aug. 25 of this year, she was indicted on new charges of first-degree murder, child abuse or neglect, endangering the welfare of a child and abandonment of a corpse. She had been free on bond with pre-trial supervision before the new charges were filed in August.
Givens was arrested in St. Charles and transported back to Jefferson City, where she is being held without bond at the Cole County Jail.
Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said the new case was filed based on new evidence and added the release of Givens would be inappropriate.
The case is on hold until a judge can be appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court after Given's attorneys asked for a change of judge and a change of venue for their client.
Throughout the court process, Coley and Mueller have been present at hearings and to make sure to keep Gray's name on the minds of the community.
"We just want to let the community know that we stand against violence against kids," Coley said.
