SAN FRANCISCO—Family members of murder victim Nicole Fitts and her missing daughter, Arianna, gathered at John McLaren Park on Saturday, April 1 to hold a candlelit memorial.
April 1, 2017 marked 1 year since Nicole, 32, was last seen alive. On April 5, 2016, authorites were informed that Fitts and her daughter Arianna, 3, both residents of San Francisco, had disappeared. Nicole reportedly failed to show up at Best Buy’s Harrison Street location, where she worked. Her body was later discovered under a piece of plywood in a shallow grave at McLaren Park, near one of the play areas.
To honor Nicole and Arianna, memorial attendees pinned colorful butterflies to their jackets. Nicole reportedly referred to her daughter as her butterfly.
On Monday, April 3, San Francisco Police Department Officer Grace Gatpandan disclosed that officials have located a car which they believe may be connected to the case. It is currently being processed by the FBI for evidence.
“It gives me hope that it’s going to soon, hopefully soon, lead to the people who are responsible,” Nicole’s sister, Contessa Fitts, told ABC 7.
Relatives have stated that Arianna’s babysitters may have been involved in her disappearance as, during an investigation with the FBI, they remained silent.
The family, in addition to creating a website to support the cause, has offered a $10,000 reward to anyone with information that may help them locate Arianna, who was last seen in Oakland. They believe she is still alive in the Bay Area.
A Facebook page dedicated to the missing toddler has also been set up.
