Girl, 10, who was raped, murdered and dismembered ‘by her own family’ remembered by hundreds at heartbreaking service
Mourners wore purple at the memorial for young Victoria, with the little girl found in a blanket the day she was to celebrate her 10th birthday
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl who was drugged, raped and killed before her little body was dismembered has been remembered in a heart-breaking memorial service.
Hundreds of mourners wore purple, young Victoria Martens' favourite colour, with the girl's mother and two others now charged over her tragic death.
The schoolgirl had been drugged, raped, chopped up and burned in a bathtub, with authorities finding parts of her body in a laundry hamper on August 24 - the day she was to celebrate her 10th birthday.
Police have alleged the young girl was injected with methamphetamine, sexually assaulted and strangled before her death.
Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden Jr. labelled the homicide "the most gruesome act of evil" he had seen in his career.
More than 600 people have since gathered at the Copper Pointe Church in Albuquerque to remember the 10-year-old, with many saying she was an "amazing girl".
New Mexico Gov Susana Martinez said: "She is no longer in pain. She's in God's arms and she's living in peace."
The mother of one of Victoria's friends, Veronica Brazas, said: "She was just such an amazing girl and I’m so blessed and happy that we got to meet her and got to know her."
Others said the young girl had a kind and energetic spirit.
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Victoria's godmother Laura Bobbs said: "She was one of God's borrowed angels."
"She would often run around her grandparent's lawn and do her gymnastics."
Songs filled the church during the memorial, with white doves released.
The young girl was allegedly drugged by accused Gonzales so that she was calm when he had sex with her.
Her mother has also been accused of using an online dating website to organise for at least three men to sexually assault her daughter, police have said.
Co-accused Jessica Kelley, 31, who jumped from a balcony in an attempt to escape police, has been charged with kidnapping and child abuse resulting in death and child rape.
Fabian Gonzales faces the same charges.
The three suspects accused of her death remain behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting trial.
Their trials are expected to take place next year.
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