Vigil held for Kansas City, Kansas, mother, 2 children found dead in burning home
A vigil was held Thursday night for a Kansas City, Kansas, mother and her two children whose bodies were found in a burning home earlier this week.
Outside the home, dozens held candles and recited prayers for Yazmin Rodriguez-Santilla, her 14-year-old daughter Amerikha Rodriguez, and her 10-year-old son Jean Carlo Rodriguez, who were all found dead early Monday.
Their bodies were found after firefighters responded to the house fire about 4:35 a.m. Monday on North Mill Street near Ridge Avenue. Kansas City, Kansas, police suspect the mother and children were victims of a homicide.
A man has been arrested and charged in connection to the deaths.
Before prayers began Thursday, Edgar Galicia, executive director the Central Avenue Betterment Association, described the Rodriguez family as being very active in the community and in Kansas City, Kansas, schools.
Amerikha was a student at Central Middle School, and Jean Carlo attended M.E. Pearson Elementary School, according to Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. The district said it plans to have counselors available at the schools when students return to classes Tuesday.
One by one, friends, relatives and neighbors lit candles Thursday night and placed flowers and stuffed animals in front of the house. After the killings, Galicia said the community now “is coming together to stand strong” and has been reaching out to family members to help. The family started to pray the rosary Wednesday, he said, and planned to continue for five days.
A visitation for Yazmin Rodriguez-Santilla, Amerikha Rodriguez and Jean Carlo Rodriguez is scheduled 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Larkin & Garcia Funeral Care, according to an obituary. A funeral service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at the Catholic Cathedral of Kansas City, Kansas. A GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral expenses has raised more than $20,000.
Earlier this week, Ismael Caballero, a 31-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, man, was arrested and charged in Wyandotte County District Court. Caballero is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of arson in connection to the death of the mother and the two children. He remains in the county jail with bond set at $1 million.
