Zaden McKnight was a quiet boy who rarely spoke in class. But when he did, he was thoughtful and said kind things, his preschool teacher told a group of people at his candlelight vigil Tuesday evening.
"I haven't gotten into much details with the children," said Kimberly Snyder, Zaden's teacher at Edison School, adding that the classroom has gotten quieter, and her students are unable to wrap their heads around why Zaden is gone.
She fought back tears as she related her own sense of loss, which she said cannot "be on the level" of his family.
"I'm a mother of three and I just can't imagine. He doesn't deserve this," Snyder said.
Edison School staffer Erin Rogers organized the candlelight vigil for Zaden, and it held was in the grassy field behind the school's playground. About three dozen people held candles and bowed their heads in prayer, wearing green ribbons, the symbol of a missing child. Steve Saucer, an assistant pastor at Victory Deliverance Ministries, asked the crowd to pray for Zaden's family and for help for police in finding his remains. He even offered his own phone number to those there as someone to call if a person who has information is too scared to tell officers.
"It is a necessity, you have a responsibility if you know anything that could close this case, as a human being, you have to tell somebody," he said.
Dayton police Chief Richard Biehl said they've received no leads or tips from the public on where to find the boy's remains. High water levels prevented officers from conducting a more thorough search along the Stillwater River previously, but Biehl said he hopes they will have more boats in the water checking the area this week.
Biehl confirmed homicide detectives were searching in the area of 23 Birchwood Ave. on Friday in connection with the case. According to court records, police believe McKnight and Zaden were killed in the basement of that home. Tonisha Harris, 29, lived at the Birchwood home, and while she does not face charges directly related to the homicide, Biehl said she is a suspect in the investigation. Their other main suspect, 26-year-old Antwan Anderson, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after fleeing from police April 7. Authorities are using information about the two to coordinate search areas to look for Zaden.
"We are looking in locations that Anderson and Harris were known to be and related areas to where Nichelle McKnight's body was found," Biehl said.
Michelle Williams, McKnight's mother and Zaden's grandmother, said at Tuesday's vigil she was touched by the support from Zaden's school. She said her family needs to find her grandson in order to gain closure.
"He was my precious melon head. He was just a sweet little boy. I miss him so much," she said.
Zaden has brown eyes, he's 3 feet tall and weighs about 45 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a yellow hat and a yellow and blue coat and red Velcro shoes with "Lighting McQueen" on them.
Anyone with information on the case can call police's anonymous tip line at (937) 222-2867.