Authorities are investigating a homicide in Bentonville after a 6-year-old girl's body was found Tuesday morning in the neighborhood of Southeast A Street just south of the Bentonville Public Library.
Police removed the girl's body from the crime scene around noon Tuesday, but continued to block streets and search the area.
Erin Mattingly and Kyle Johnson, who identified themselves as friends of the girl's family, said the girl's name was Jersey Bridgeman. Two of the girl's uncles, Mike and Thomas Bridgeman, also confirmed her identity.
Erin Mattingly said she attended Jersey Bridgeman’s 6-year-old birthday party last weekend.
“She was a sweet girl,” Mattingly said about Jersey as tears formed in her eyes. “She was such a pretty girl.”
More than 100 people attended a candlelight vigil for the girl at the Benton County Child Advocacy Center in Little Flock.
The girl was reported missing at 6:43 a.m. this morning. Her body was found soon after during a neighborhood search, said Chief Jon Simpson. He would not release any details such as the girl's identity or the cause of death, but he said she was a student in the Bentonville School District.
An area around three houses was taped off Tuesday morning, and parts of southeast Seventh and A streets were closed. Simpson said no arrests have been made, but that he did not think there was a threat to public safety.
Simpson said the Child Abduction Response Team, a multiagency group with special training, would help with the investigation.
A stroller and carseats were in front of the house from which the girl was reported missing. Her body was found behind a neighboring house.
Brad Brown, who lives at 204 S.E. Sixth St., said he was shocked to see the numerous police cars in his neighborhood. Brown has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years.
He did not know the girl or her family, but said his neighbors knew the family.
"I feel bad for the family that it happened," Brown said. "It's just scary to think this happened in your backyard."
Brown described the neighborhood as a normal one with kids playing outside.
The house at 608 S.E. Seventh St. is owned by William Wallace and Supha Xaprasith of New York City, according to property tax records.
This is the second time in a little more than a year that police have investigated a homicide in the area. Huong Thi Truong was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a man at her residence at 506 S.E. Seventh St.
She was sent to the Arkansas State Hospital in an attempt to make her fit for trial.
Tracy Neal and Misty Gittings contributed to this report