Community rallies around family of slain Saginaw girl

SAGINAW, MI — From a half-mile away, it was not hard to spot the memorial for Na’Mylah J. Turner-Moore.

In the morning light, the sun reflected off the shiny surfaces of balloons that whipped in the wind only feet from where the 10-year-old Saginaw girl was discovered dead Tuesday, Aug. 30.

It was a death that shocked the community — in places far beyond this East Side Saginaw neighborhood — and continues to lead people to commemorate the fourth-grade girl’s life and support her family, in ways big and small.

Dionne Lowery didn’t know Na’Mylah, but the story of the little girl’s life touched the Saginaw native’s heart enough to inspire her contribution to the memorial site, which grew larger Friday, Sept. 2, at the corner of South 12th and Annesley.

“I’ve got children and I’ve got grandchildren, and I just feel for this little girl,” said Lowery, who drove to the site Friday morning to add a pink, plush dog doll to the dozens of toys resting there.

“I just wanted to come and bring her something. I just wanted to let her know we are praying for her.”

Through commemorations and fundraising efforts, similar sentiments and condolences were expressed by hundreds of people — on social media and in other spaces — following news of Na’Mylah’s death this week.

Police arrested Na’Mylah’s 14-year-old stepbrother, Jameion Peterson, and prosecutors charged him with open murder in her death.

Na’Mylah was reported missing from her stepfather’s house at 813 S. 12th St. around 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday. After hours of searching, officers found her body in an abandoned, overgrown lot on the same block, near the corner of South 12th and Annesley streets.

In the days since then, supporters established the memorial site, which included items with bright colors — largely in hues of blue, purple, pink and red — that stood out in contrast to the green grass growing atop the empty lots surrounding the intersection.

Tied around the street sign at the intersection were more than a dozen balloons that danced against the breeze, catching the attention of motorists traveling several blocks away.

Laying in the grass about 10 feet away from the signpost was a single photo of Na’Mylah. The image was surrounded by flowers, two makeshift Catholic crosses, still-burning candles encased in glass featuring messages of prayer, pinwheels that spun in the gust, and an assortment of about two dozen children’s toys. The lineup included Disney characters, Minnie Mouse, and toy dogs and elephants. One soft, stuffed white bear carried a red heart that read “Happy Birthday.” Na’Mylah would have turned 11 on Sept. 18.

“It’s been amazing,” Walter Curley Jr., Na’Mylah’s uncle, said of the community support for his family. “I’m flabbergasted. It’s unbelievable how Saginaw came together for us.”

Curley said he was “astounded” by the support aimed at the GoFundMe page he established to help pay for his niece’s funeral, which has not yet been scheduled. Just before 1 p.m. Friday, the GoFundMe campaign reached its $5,000 goal after 129 donations that began collecting less than 24 hours earlier. Donations ranged from $5 to $300.

“I’m praying for you and your family’s strength and comfort,” read a message on the webpage, written by one of the contributors.

Curley also gave his blessing to another fundraising effort planned for this weekend. A car wash scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, will collect funeral donations at the 7-Eleven store on the corner of Tittabawassee and Mackinaw in Saginaw Township. Contributors also can donate cans that organizers plan to recycle for funds.

Curley said he plans to attend the car wash organized by Kim Rowan, a stranger to Na’Mylah’s family who decided to help them in their time of need.

“This child, who was only alive for 10 years, deserves to have a funeral and her family deserves the right to do this one last thing for her,” said Rowan, a HealthSource mental health worker.

News of the planned car wash spread across social media Friday. Rowan, of Carrollton Township, said other good Samaritans pledged to purchase the equipment needed for the event.

“There’s a lot of good people in Saginaw County,” Rowan said, “and they will rise to help someone else out.”

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