Community gathers for candlelight vigil to honor slain Celebration family

As the sun went down, they lifted their voices up in song.

More than 100 friends, loved ones and neighbors attended the candlelight vigil Monday honoring 42-year-old Megan Todt and her three children Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, and Zoe, 4, and their dog Breezy.

Investigators say Anthony Todt confessed to killing his family sometime in December, and that they believe he had been living in the home with the bodies since they were found last week. He now faces four counts of murder and one count of cruelty to animals.

“Even if you didn’t know them, you know someone that knew them,” said Melissa Dempster-Daly, a Celebration resident. “We’ve all been praying from the get-go."

Read: Man accused of killing wife, 3 kids and dog at Celebration home jailed without bail

The vigil took place in the heart of Celebration, exactly a week after their bodies were found, and included music, songs and prayer honoring the victims.

“An event like this brings out, of course, the worst of humanity. But also against that backdrop comes some of the best of humanity," said Pastor Gregg Heinsch of Celebration Community Church."

One boy at the vigil dedicated a song to Alek and Tyler during the vigil. While the murders have stunned the Celebration community, some say it’s been especially difficult for the children.

“That’s the part that breaks your heart most of all -- that they lost their playmates in such a horrific, unexpected and shocking way,” said Heinsch.

As the 40-minute vigil came to an end, those who gathered sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth."

Read: Neighbors, children react to 4 bodies found in Celebration

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