The South Windsor community came out to support the family of mother Jessica Edwards by holding a vigil in her honor Saturday.
Edwards was a 30-year-old South Windsor woman and mom to a 7-month-old baby boy. After over a week of searching, her body was found Friday in a wooded area in East Hartford.
"We want the Edwards family to especially know that this community is behind them 100%. And anything we can do for them, we'll be there to support them," said South Windsor Mayor Andrew Paterna.
Edwards was remembered as a loyal, devoted friend. A sister, a daughter, and an aunt.
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"My auntie was so nice to me," said Edwards' nephew.
As family paid tribute, so did the community. The crowd shouted out, describing Edwards as determined, loving and sassy. They remembered her for who she was what she could be.
She was set to graduate from Manchester Community College this month. In 2009, she graduated from East Hartford High School and many of her classmates came out to show support.
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"We all love her. We have all been touched by her in some kind of way," said Reina Ruiz of East Hartford.
Edwards' brother and sister attended and made emotional statements at the vigil.
"I just want everybody to remember her. How amazing she was," said Yanique Edwards, Jessica's sister.
"I loved my sister so much. She had a good heart. So kind. She saw the good in people," said Mario Edwards, Jessica's brother.
State police spent much of Friday searching the area of Chipper Drive, not far from Hockanum River Linear Park. Her body was found in a wooded area beyond the end of Driver Road, according to police.
Edwards' husband, 22-year-old Tahj Hutchinson, has been arrested and faces first-degree manslaughter charges in connection with her death.
Police told NBC Connecticut that they were able to obtain a confession from Hutchinson but did not provide details on what the confession entailed. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
Investigators said more charges may be filed pending the results of an autopsy and the ongoing investigation.
"We believe we have a good grasp on what happened," said South Windsor Police Sgt. Mark Cleverdon.
Cleverdon said at this time, police do not believe Edwards got into a vehicle with someone she did not know at the time she went missing.
Police said Friday that Edwards' child is safe and with family members.
Officials said they were able to locate Edwards' body after receiving "technological data," later clarified as location data from a phone.
Jessica went to her mother’s house in East Hartford on Mother’s Day and South Windsor Police said her Edwards' told them he last saw his wife last Monday morning.
He said she got into a car with friends to go to a training session at Hartford Hospital, but he didn't see the car or know the friends, according to police.
Police said Jessica called out of her clinical training at Hartford Hospital last Monday, police said, and that message was sent at 2 a.m. Monday.
South Windsor Police said they have been trying to pinpoint her every move from the moment she left her mother’s house on Mother’s Day to when she was reported missing the next day.
Hutchinson, currently in the custody of South Windsor police, is set to appear in Court on Monday morning.
The investigation is ongoing.
