Heartbreaking pictures have emerged of a toddler after her decomposed body was found hidden in her cot - as her dad faces charges of abusing a corpse.
Eric Warfel has admitted concealing daughter Ember's corpse for more than a month, putting rubbish in the child's room to disguise the smell.
The 34-year-old was arrested when the body was discovered by an engineer who visited the flat, in Medina, Ohio, to update the cable TV.
In a touching outpour of support and sympathy, more than 200 people attended a vigil for the 21-month-old girl.
People dressed in pink, released balloons and signed cards for the tragic tot after the event was publicised on Facebook.
Kimberlee Nagy Bublik, who helped arrange the vigil, said she wanted to do something to help out, instead of hitting out at the girl's father.
She told The Medina Gazette: "There were some really ugly things being said on Facebook."
FacebookFacebookVigil: More than 200 people turned up to a funeral for the tragic tot
"Everybody wants to blame and point fingers, but the reaction people should have is the opposite.”
"We should be bringing the community together to mourn this little girl."
Warfel was arrested while shopping with his seven-year-old daughter at the local mall and charged with abuse of a corpse.
The older girl is currently in the custody of her grandparents.
Warfel reportedly told authorities that his ex-wife, the mother of the children, currently lives in New York.
Police said the baby's body was sent to the Cuyahoga County Coroner for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Medina County Sheriff's officeEric WarfelArrest: Warfel was detained by police in a shopping mall with another daughter
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He was remanded in custody by magistrate Linda Leggett who set after bail was set at $1 million during a hearing over video link.
Leggett, reading from a police report, said Warfel told law enforcement Ember had died on or around June 18.
Warfel said he did not call police or medical professionals after the child died and that he attempted to conceal the baby's death from her family, according to the statement read to the court.
Warfel also admitted to police that he put rubbish in the child's bedroom to disguise the smell of the decomposing body, Leggett said.
FacebookEric Warfel is accused of leaving his daughters body decomposing in a crib for a monthCarer: Warfel's ex-wife and mother of Ember lives in New York
This is not the first of Warfel's children to die. He is believed to have had a daughter who died in March 2013 in Cuyahoga County, according to the judge.
The child, five-month-old Erin Delynn Warfel, died in hospital of "sudden unexplained infant death".
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