BLACKSBURG, Va. (WSLS10) - Crowds gathered to show their support to the family of Nicole Lovell.
Members in the group Justice for Children Without Voices held a prayer vigil Saturday night.
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Gatherers had hoped Nicole would come home safely but their hopeful prayers changed to condolences.
"I was coming hoping she would come home," said Jamie Cales, who attended the vigil.
Cales said he is still processing the news that 13-year-old Nicole Lovell is gone.
"We found out she wasn't everyone is trying to wrap their heads around the news," Cales said.
Pastor Mike Honaker of River of Life Church in Dublin spoke words of encouragement during Saturday's vigil, especially now that the goal is to make sure the family can get some sense of peace during this tragic time.
"To pray for the family and also accept it as a challenge to do more and do whatever we could however we could do it to try to protect and guard our children safely," Honaker said.
Kenny Jarrels with Help Save the Next Girl also attended the vigil.
He's been talking to Nicole's family since she went missing earlier this week.
Jarrels said the goal now is to make sure the family can grieve and move forward.
"Right now that's our next goal is to comfort the family and make them realize they are not facing this alone," he said.