BATESVILLE, Miss. –People in the Mid-South and all across the world are talking about the death of 19 year old Jessica Chambers. The teen who was set on fire last weekend in Panola County was buried Saturday.
Investigators are still trying to solve this crime. People in the community say they’re confident this case won’t go unsolved.
About 200 people came to the vigil. Jessica’s father says he’s overwhelmed by the support from the community
“Not only here, it’s all over the world, we had a lady from Hawaii pick flowers out of her own garden and send them here and that’s amazing,” said Ben Chambers; Jessica’s father.
Even people who didn’t know Jessica are praying for her family.
They believe someone knows who lit her on fire last week.
“It’s sick, it’s just absolutely disgusting that somebody could do that to an innocent person. It’s disgusting, it’s not fair that they’re still walking around and she’s going six feet under,” said Windy Melton, a cousin.
People lit candles, launched lanterns and balloons. Jessica’s father hopes the vigil helps bring him some closure.
“I want justice more than anything in the world, got to have justice, can’t live like this, wondering and wondering and wondering and I’ve got faith in our sheriff’s department,” he stated.
“Right now we’re at a standstill. I have not slept in almost a week,” said a relative.
People signed posters and wrote messages as a way to remember the teen. They want the world to know she had a big heart.
“She’s my little cousin, she meant the world to all of us, she was bright bubbly, loved everybody. She was a good kid. I loved her, we all loved her,” Melton explained.
They say they’ll miss her bright smile more than anything else.
After the funeral WREG talked with family and friends who said they’ll miss Jessica’s smile. Friends wrote messages on her casket. The pastor said during the eulogy: “The way to conquer evil is by loving one another,” he state.
Several agencies are working on this investigation.
Many people were interviewed but there are still no clear suspects.
If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, call Crimestoppers at 1800.729.2169.
