Missing Baby Gabriel Johnson Honor: Public Candlelight Vigil of Hope

Rik Merchant
Rik Merchant, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 22, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Scottsdale AZ: A hopeful candlelight vigil in honor of missing baby Gabriel Johnson, 8 months, will be held from 6pm to 7:30pm on Sunday January 24, 2010 near Jack Rabbit Road on the south soccer field in Chapparal Park. There will be candles but the public are encouraged to bring their own. KPHO interviewed baby Gabriel's great uncle and aunt, Will and Kelli McQueary, who have organized this mass gathering to serve several purposes- to honor baby Gabriel, to give back to the public for the outpouring love, and to perhaps jog the memory of someone who may have sighted their grand-nephew after he went missing. And to show continued hope that baby Gabriel is still alive.

Will and Kelli McQueary chose Chapparal Park for the candlelight vigil because, Kelli McQueary said, "There's a lot of family and friends in this area and that's why we chose this park to do it in." Holding back tears, she added with a shaky voice, "It's devastating that a member of our family is missing... and he should be here with us." Will McQueary said, "We believe that Gabriel is alive and, of course, we want to see him back with his father Logan, my nephew. We totally believe that right now. We just hope and pray."

The candlelight vigil will fan the flame of hope burning in the heart of the infant boy's father, Logan McQueary, who has made several public pleas for the safe return of baby Gabriel. Will McQueary said of Logan, "He's a young man and his whole life has kind of been taken away from him, so it's tough on him right now," Kelli McQueary added, "It's just devastating. Nobody should lose a child like this and not know where he is."

The McQuearys pore over Internet news sites daily looking for any clues that will offer the whereabouts of baby Gabriel, who was last seen with his mother, Elizabeth Johnson, on December 26, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. Johnson, 23, is held in Maricopa County's Estrella Jail for baby Gabriel's abduction. Tempe Arizona police and the FBI continue to search for the missing blond, blue-eyed baby boy.

Published by Rik Merchant

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  • Lorraine Noname2/17/2010

    Thank you, so very much, for your time and efforts, writing and posting all of this information, so we may participate in this effort. As a professionally trained photographer, I'd like to educate, regarding posting of images, in general, and on the posters of baby Gabriel: Every individual can yield very different images of one's self -- can look like a totally different person, from one image to another. This is determined by many factors such as: lighting; POSITIONING; expressions; use of shadows . . . I humbly suggest that the postings should contain multiple images, that look very different from one image to another. This should make it easier for the general public to recognize baby Gabriel, should they see him. I will be happy to send you three picks, from those provided on the internet, of baby Gabriel, to illustrate this important point. Please email me at: shiningthroughnow@yahoo.com, to request this. In Your service~ Lorraine
    ~ sending Light and Love to you, now.

  • Kristie Leong M.D.1/23/2010

    I hope they find this child safe and sound. Such a tragedy. :-(

  • Tony Jingo1/22/2010

    Vigil of Hope..how fitting

  • JerseyNana1/22/2010

    RM, this subject belongs to you, and when he is found safe and sound, I know you will be as happy as his family! Love ya!

  • T. Hillukka1/22/2010

    I feel so bad for that family...

  • Donald Pennington1/22/2010

    This is such a tough situation. You cover it with such style.

  • Elizabeth Valentine1/22/2010

    What a lovely tribute for them to organize, and hopefully it will help too.

  • Jeffrey Weeks1/22/2010

    thanks for the update. so sad!

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