Family, friends and hundreds from the Souderton community came to remember Skyler Kauffman who was murdered a week ago.
About 700 mourners poured into the Sadler-Suess Funeral Home in Telford Sunday evening. The third grader was beaten, raped and strangled Monday in basement apartment where she lived. Police discovered her body in a dumpster on the property.
Her accused killer, 24-year-old James Troutman, was charged with her murder Monday.
Family, friends and complete strangers are struggling to deal with Skyler's senseless murder.
“The closing of the casket was pretty hard, very hard,” family friend Lisa Long said. “They seem to have a little inner peace, having put their final kiss on a bad situation.”
Long says Skyler did not know Troutman but the 9-year-old and a friend used a bathroom at his apartment three weeks ago and left frightened enough to have their parents call police.
“I really think they need to see the closure of it by the prosecution of the supposed...or the accused at this point.”
Funeral services for Skyler will be held Monday at Calvary Church in Souderton.
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