Citizens are asked to come together for a march and candlelight vigil Saturday evening to honor the memory of Hailey Owens.
The 10-year-old girl was found dead early Wednesday morning, hours after she was allegedly kidnapped by Craig Wood. He was arrested Tuesday night and has since been charged with first-degree murder.
People are asked to gather at the intersection of Campbell and Commercial Street on the west side of Commercial Street at 8 p.m. Saturday, with the march to begin at 8:15 p.m. A Facebook Event has been set up, and more than 4,000 people had already planned to attend as of Thursday morning.
The march will move east along Commercial Street and end at the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, after which a moment of silence will be held.
Motorists are advised that Commercial Street will be closed from 7:45 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. from Campbell Ave to Washington Ave.Public parking is available immediately south of Commercial Street. Please bring your own candles, as they will not be provided.
Donations to benefit the family of Hailey can be made at any of the 21 Empire Bank locations across the area. They should be made to the Hailey Owens Memorial Fund. Mailed donations should read: Empire Bank C/O Hailey Owens Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 3397, Springfield, MO 65808. The bank’s main phone number is 417-881-3100.