Candles lit to mourn 4-year-old
More than 100 people, some of them holding candles and many of them in tears, gathered in Diamond Park Wednesday night to mourn the tragic death of a 4-year-old boy a day earlier.
A memorial and candlelight vigil for Bentley Thomas Miller was organized by Butler resident Nikki Mathews, who spread the word through Facebook.
Saddened by the loss and feeling restless Tuesday night, Mathews said she and several other people started the memorial in front of the Our Silent Defender monument late that night.
“I couldn't sleep, it was really bothering me,” she said.
Mathews and others who knew him said Bentley was an energetic and happy boy.
He was declared dead Tuesday morning after being rushed to Butler Memorial Hospital with severe injuries.
His death, which was ruled a homicide by authorities, is under investigation by Butler Township Police. Keith Jordan Lambing, a person of interest, was arrested by police Wednesday afternoon and was questioned by township officers.
Mathews said the memorial started with a box of chalk, a teddy bear and a few candles.
She left the chalk in hopes that other people would also leave items or write a message on the pavement in memory of Bentley.
The teddy bear and other toys were donated by her own 4-year-old son, who had played with Bentley in the past.
“My son said he wanted him to have them in heaven,” Mathews said.
On Wednesday she decided to make an event on Facebook, seeing it as an opportunity for the community to come together in memory of the boy and to send the message that violence is never the answer and that “our children are our future.”Messages written in chalk included “rock on Bentley” and “fly high angel” and “rest easy buddy.”The people in attendance mostly stood in silence, though they did release 50 balloons after a man made a short announcement around 8:30 p.m.The balloons were donated by Walmart, and doughnuts were donated by the Dunkin' Donuts in Butler Commons.Lori Petanovic of Butler said she came to support the family, a couple members of which were present.“I'm glad we can come together without it being negative,” she said.Petanovic said people were relieved Wednesday afternoon when they heard the news that Lambing was no longer on the run from police.“It was uncomfortable for everybody that he was still out there,” she said.Also in attendance Wednesday night wearing name tags were seven counselors from Victim Outreach Intervention Center in Butler, which provides counseling and other services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.
Counselor Kaitlyn Veiock said the agency's services are available to anyone affected by the tragedy.Having a peaceful gathering like the one Wednesday was a good way for people to show that they care, Veiock said.“For a community to come together like this is one of the most important things to see; the love and support they are showing for the family,” she said.Joe Ladue, an EMT and Butler Township volunteer firefighter, said a tragedy like this one leaves a lasting impression on emergency responders.“This call did affect a lot of the law enforcement and EMTs,” he said. “It was a tough situation.”Ladue said Jeeps From the Homefront 16001, a Jeep club that he co-founded with Nico Soler, is tentatively planning to hold a benefit for Bentley's family in June at Recon Brewing in Center Township.Mathews wasn't the only one who felt motivated to try and make a difference in the community in light of the events of Tuesday.Ryan Covert and Erik Hulick, co-owners of Butler Hot Dog Shoppe on Monroe Street, early Wednesday afternoon offered a cash reward to anyone who could provide information to the police that would lead to Lambing's capture.Hulick, in an interview, said that they did not want to interfere with the police's work, but were moved to try and do something.“We don't really get disturbed by the news, but this is something that really disturbs both of us,” he said.Funeral arrangements for Bentley were unknown as of this morning.
