‘We will look for you in the Ontario night sky’
Strangers, families and friends gather at emotional outdoor vigil to remember Elijah Marsh, who died after wandering alone into the bitter cold
Amid fluffy snowflakes and in a temperature that was cold, yes, but nothing like it was when Elijah Marsh wandered alone out into the morning darkness, a group gathered Saturday at the entrance to the 3-year-old’s apartment complex.
Pastor Delroy Williams, of the Open Door Healing Centre, did not know Elijah or his family. Yet he decided to join a prayer vigil outside the Neptune Dr. apartment complex where Elijah lived with family.
Strangers came. Parents and children who knew Elijah came. Toronto Mayor John Tory came. Some who searched for the boy came. They brought flowers and stuffed animals and notes and laid them at the entrance to the complex. Television crews covered it live.
The death of Elijah — who trudged out into what felt like -33 C weather at 4 a.m. Thursday, dressed in boots, a pull-up diaper and a T-shirt — has touched people across Canada.
So much so, that an online crowdfunding effort to help cover Elijah’s funeral costs had raised more than $161,000 Saturday evening, more than seven times the $20,000 target.
The fundraiser, Justin Kozuch, posted a statement Saturday on Twitter from Elijah’s mother, Georgette Marsh, saying her family was touched by the “outpouring of love” from strangers.
“We’re devastated by the loss of Elijah, but we’re heartwarmed to see how many people have been touched by this story. Thank you so much,” reads the statement in part.
Marsh later spoke to CP24, saying Elijah was wise for his years and very affectionate, “Always kissing me, ‘Mommy what’s wrong? Come, come let me give you a kiss.’
“I’m hearing it now: ‘Don’t cry, mommy.’ ”
Those in attendance at the Saturday vigil lit candles, prayed and sang, and spoke of the heartbreak of it all. A little boy had wandered, as little children do. A city held its breath. And then came the kind of news that there appears to be little to learn from. It sows only grief.
“I’m so sorry, beautiful little boy, that this had to happen to someone as young and innocent as you,” began one, handwritten note. “Sometimes the world works in strange ways,” it continued. “We will look for you in the Ontario night sky.”
Snow coated a growing pile of stuffed animals, bouquets of flowers, a small snowsuit and a poster, made by the hand — and with the spelling — of a child, which offered Elijah “hugs to keep you worm!”
Adam Caponigro, 3, attended the same daycare as Elijah and they played together. His parents, Carlo and Maria, decided to tell Adam and older son Daniel, 5, what happened. Together, Adam and Daniel laid a bouquet of flowers behind the sign at the entrance to the complex.
Adam said he hopes Elijah has “fun with the angels.”
According to reports, Elijah had been staying at the complex in his grandmother’s apartment.
Curt Barry, identified by CP24 as Elijah’s father, told the news station Saturday that he thanked “god for the blessing of Elijah and having the child all these years.” He also thanked emergency responders and those who have shown their support.
He said his son must have been sleepwalking. He told the station he has two other sons that he has to “raise into adulthood and I’m thank- ful to God for the opportunity,” and that he must now move on.
He told CP24 that he had no doubt Elijah would have grown to become a “bright” and “articulate” man, who would have been “nurtured well” and have “values and understand the value of human life and human rights and love and understanding.”
Tory told reporters at the vigil that he was there for others who could not be there and wanted Elijah’s family to know “that we’re all with them in their hour of need and their hour of grief and I’m just here to extend my own personal condolences as well. It’s a very, very sad thing.
“I’m a father and a grandfather, and this kind of thing could happen to any of us, where there’s a terrible accident that befalls a little boy, and you just can’t imagine that happening to your own family.”
Jacquie Thomas, 50, did not know Elijah or his family, but the mother and grandmother came out of “heartfelt support for this family, for this beautiful little baby boy who is no longer with us. I can only imagine the hurt, the pain.”
Many people joined in the search for the missing boy who was eventu- ally found six hours after he wandered, and about 300 metres away. Despite efforts to revive him, Elijah was pronounced dead in hospital.
Williams, in leading a prayer, asked that God bring the family comfort and “give us understanding and wisdom at this time.” He also thanked all those who have contributed to the crowdfunding drive.
“I’m a father and I’m just so touched by this great tragedy,” Williams, 54, told reporters. “It’s not about who his parents (are); we all share in the same grief together.” With files from Robin Levinson King
“I’m so sorry, beautiful little boy, that this had to happen to someone as young and innocent as you.” A HANDWRITTEN NOTE LEFT AT THE VIGIL