AURORA — On what would have been her 11th birthday, many people involved in the Aaroné Thompson case gathered Monday evening for a candlelight memorial in honor of the little girl and others like her who died of abuse.
“It’s a family that lost a child, but it’s also a community, a state, a nation that lost a child,” said Dr. Andrew Sirotnak of the Kempe Center, which hosted the service at Children’s Hospital. “In many ways, this is a way to say goodbye to Aaroné.”
Aaroné would have been 6 years old when she was reported missing from her Aurora home in November 2005, but police believe she died two years earlier.
Her father, Aaron Thompson, was sentenced this year to more than 100 years in prison. He was convicted of numerous counts, including child abuse resulting in death.
On Monday, the 50 or so who gathered at the playground at Children’s, mostly those involved in the case, recalled how one of the most high-profile cases in Colorado in recent memory affected their lives and how everyone needs to be more involved in the lives of children.
“It’s a sad statistic. Most of the child homicides that are committed in our country are committed by parents,” Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said. “We all need to be investing in our kids.”
Aaroné’s aunt, Leah Terry, thanked police and everyone who worked on the case, then read a letter from Aaroné’s mother, Lynette Thompson, who lives in Michigan and could not attend the memorial.
“My daughter Aaroné was every true meaning of a princess,” Thompson wrote. “Aaroné is smiling down on me and the rest of my family.”
For many, the memorial likely will be the closest they get to closure, as Aaroné’s body has not been found and Thompson has refused to say where the child is buried.
“Aaroné, we are sad we never heard you laugh, play or grow,” Aurora police chaplain Jim Henderson said. “Let us never forget Aaroné Thomp son and all the other children that suffered similar fates.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
