‘My heart is broken’: Family, funeral home hold vigil for baby found dead in back of hearse

GADSDEN, Ala. (WBRC) - The Gadsden community came together Sunday night to pray and honor a baby after her body was found inside a hearse at a funeral home Saturday.

The family of 1-year-old Blessence Pearl was too distraught to speak but were surrounded by support. Dozens of people came out to pray at the West Gadsden Funeral Home Sunday just one day after her body was found inside the hearse.

The director of the funeral home, Dantez Robinson, distraught over the news.

“My heart is broken, my heart goes out to this family. We are servicing this family, we are so sad that this happened,” Robinson said.

Just hours after launching a homicide investigation, Gadsden Police arrested the mother of Blessence, Terica Pearl, who is being charged with murder according to court records.

Sunday night, Gadsden Police reiterated their commitment to ensuring justice.

“We can’t say enough good things about the things that we’re doing to follow every step and procedure to get justice for our victim,” said Gadsden Police Lieutenant Dusty Ford.

It’s a trying time for everyone, including the employee who found Blessence’s body.

“I got four girls of my own.. I know how it feels. I’m the one that found her in that car... I couldn’t even work yesterday because that could have been one of ours,” said the employee.

Gadsden Police say Terica Pearl is being held without bond.

A funeral service is now being planned, and WBRC is told that the funeral home is providing its services for free.

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