Vigil held in Mississauga for 11-year-old girl found dead after Amber Alert

A vigil was held Saturday evening in Mississauga for an 11-year-old girl who was found dead following an Amber Alert.

Riya Rajkumar was found dead in a Brampton home late Thursday after Peel police issued the alert saying she had been abducted by her father.

The vigil was organized by Amrita Naipaul, who said Rajkumar’s mother was a past classmate of hers.

“I haven’t been able to sleep since and cannot stop thinking about this,” Naipaul said in a Facebook post.

WATCH: Vigil held for murdered 11-year-old Riya Rajkumar 

1:00 Vigil held for murdered 11-year-old Riya Rajkumar

“I cannot imagine what it’s like losing your little girl on her birthday and on a day where love is so celebrated.”

It was both Rajkumar’s and her mother’s birthday on Thursday, which was also Valentine’s Day.

The vigil began at 6 p.m. and ended around 8 p.m. at 985 Old Derry Road, near Meadowvale Village Public School, where Rajkumar was a Grade 5 student.

1:56 Friends, family mourn death of 11-year-old girl

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Meanwhile, a makeshift memorial is growing outside of the Brampton home where Rajkumar was found dead, near Hansen Road North and Crawford Drive.

That home is owned by her father, Roopesh Rajkumar, who has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.

A crowdfunding initiative has also been started to cover the costs of the girl’s funeral.

As of Saturday morning, it had raised over $11,000.

Another vigil is also being planned for Tuesday evening from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Garden Square in Brampton.

-With files from Nick Westoll and David Shum