THAXTON (WSLS10) -A community came together to honor the lives of Katherine and Shelia Lyon Saturday who disappeared 40-years-ago when they were only young children.
The sisters disappeared from a Maryland mall in 1975. After more than a decade of no answers, the case went cold. New evidence in recent years however led investigators to Taylor's Mountain, a small community in Bedford County.
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After months of digging on property the Welch family once owned on Taylor's Mountain, what are believed to be bone fragments according to search warrants were found. As those documents were unsealed, Lloyd Lee Welch was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the case.
It's been 40-years the parents of the two girls have been without closure. Recent evidence has stirred emotions on Taylor's Mountain, as the search has left many in the community on stand by.
About 75 people met at the field behind the former site of Thaxton elementary on Saturday for a vigil in honor of the girls.
They sang hymns and pastor's at nearby church's spoke and offered words of hope and wisdom to give the community closure.
Organizers say the goal of the event is to let other people know Taylor's Mountain is a safe place. Organizer Dana Gillenwater says it was important to bring healing to the community.
"We just want to bring everybody together as a community. We want everybody to grieve in a way that maybe they haven't been able to," Gillenwater said. " We're just trying to give everybody the opportunity to get together.
Mike Miller with the Bedford County Sheriff's Department says there is no reason for people living in that area to fear their surroundings because of the case.
"There's a lot of good people here today and have been there. This is no different than any other crime that happens in the U.S," Miller said.
Captain Miller says the investigation in the Lyon case is ongoing and says he won't stop until investigators have exhausted their leads.
Meanwhile pastors hope if anyone in the Taylor's Mountain community have any additional information to come forward and report it to police.