A Tragedy in Watson, Ill
The girl was at home with her younger brother while their uncle, Justin DeRyke, was babysitting them.
DeRyke claims that Long scratched him, ran outside, and fell into a nearby brush pile. There, she tripped and fell causing a stick to impale her neck.
According to the Associated Press, DeRyke also claims that he killed Long to “put her out of her misery.” He did this by stabbing her in the heart approximately five times and slitting her throat according to CBS.
Junior Paula Norato said, “It’s a tragedy to think that her future was taken from her. She had her whole life ahead of her, and for her uncle to try and cover it up as an accident instead of admitting his mistake? That’s a shame.”
Search teams found Long in a rural area, south of Watson.
On Sept. 11, DeRyke was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and his sentence includes a five million dollar bond.
Willow Long was laid to rest on Monday, Sept. 16, in her hometown of Watson, Ill. The service was attended by around 150 mourners, including family, friends, and members of the community.
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