The North Penn community continued to mourn the loss of 5-year-old Eliza Talal on Friday night, via a candlelight vigil at Fischer’s Park in Towamencin Township.
The vigil drew upwards of several hundred community members to the park, who were joined by Eliza’s parents and family in mourning the tragic loss. As popular Disney songs were played in honor of Eliza, her mother, Yusra Talal, wept.
"I will miss her so much and life won't be the same without her," said Yusra Talal, in an interview with 6ABC.
Eliza, who was autistic and nonverbal, went missing around noon on Aug. 4 as the height of Tropical Storm Isaias passed through the region. Towamencin Township Police Chief Tim Dickinson said that Eliza had walked out of her home on Spring Valley Road — which borders a nearby creek — and a frantic search for the girl began that included hundreds of community volunteers, emergency service personnel, search and rescue teams, canine units, drones and Pennsylvania State Police helicopters.
At 10:40 a.m. the following day, Eliza’s body was discovered by a volunteer at Fischer’s Park. Investigators would later confirm that the girl had drowned.
See also:
Overnight Search For Missing Autistic Girl Turns Up Empty, Search Efforts Continue Wednesday
Police Provide Update On Autistic Girl Who Went Missing During Tropical Storm Isaias
Police Searching For Missing Girl With Special Needs In Towamencin
Photos: Tropical Storm Isaias Causes Widespread Flooding Across North Penn Area
