WINTER PARK, Fla. – A month after the death of 15-year-old Roger Trindade, friends and people who wanted to show their support for the teenager attended a vigil in Winter Park.
Dozens held white balloons and candles as a pastor read passages from the Bible.
Fernanda Kachny knew Roger since he was a baby. She gave him the nickname, “Little Bird,” referencing his slim stature.
During Tuesday night's vigil, Kachny read a note from Roger's sister.
In part, it read, "Roger had the gift of making people around him smile, whether with his magic tricks or his funny jokes."
In the note, the family thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers and asked people to keep Roger's story alive.
"Today we demand justice so this case does not turn into just a statistic," read the note.
Roger's parents are in Brazil.
Kachny said that's where the family spread his ashes.
But through FaceTime, his mother was able to see the crowd of supporters.
"She was very happy,” Kachny said. “She was wondering if people would turn out."
Viviane Acaire was among the dozen who wanted to show her support. She didn't know Roger, but was familiar with what it’s like to lose a loved one.
"It's a very sad situation,” Acaire said. “I hope they prosecute this boy for the justice for this family.”
Many friends were too emotional to speak on camera, but they said Roger loved his magic tricks.
As for the lack of arrests in the case, Kachny said she knows police are working closely with the family.
"The only thing that I really want is Roger to be here,” she said. “Because he really -- he was the life of the party all the time.”
There is still no definitive answer to Roger's cause of death, but one thing is for sure by the showing of the people and the memorial in Winter Park: he was well-loved.