Zane Henry, Catalaya Rios, Miraya Henry (Pearl Rebolledo Velazco)
PADEN, Okla. - Three children whose mother is accused of killing them last month have been remembered at a funeral in Oklahoma where photos and videos of the children brought many audible cries from those gathered.
The children's father, Pedro Rios, sat in the front row of their funeral Saturday at a church in Paden, his head bowed down as tears streamed down his face. His children - 3-year-old Zane, 23-month-old Mireya, and 7-month-old Cataley - were in white-draped caskets, each adorned with a bouquet of flowers and a favorite toy, The Oklahoman reported.
The hourlong service included songs of loss and longing along with a sermon about the struggles and faith.
“This isn’t fair,” said officiant Bryan Logan as he addressed a crowd of about 50 family and friends, gesturing to the three white caskets “This is not fair to anybody sitting here this morning.
“It is not fair.”
Rachel Henry (Photo Courtesy: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
Police allege the children’s mother, Rachel Henry, admitted to smothering them on Jan. 21 in Phoenix, Arizona. Henry, 22, was indicted last week on three counts of first-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in court Tuesday.
Images of Zane showed the toddler playing with toy cars and a Buzz Lightyear action figure. Another photo showed infant Cataleya sleeping in her grandmother’s arms
“(Cataleya) was her brother and sister’s biggest fan,” Logan noted. “She could not stand to be away from them.”
In one video of Mireya, someone asked her, “What do you want to say?”
“I love you,” she answered.