Candlelight Pierces Darkness in Baby's Vigil

Illuminated by flickering candlelight emitted by dozens of candles flanking stuffed animals and bouquets, Jody Kagarise stepped forward to help her grandchildren light their candles in memoriam of a baby boy who didn't live to see a third week of life. "For everyone to come out here tonight and be a part of this shows that even though we are a small community, we are always here for each other," Kagarise said, her grandson Colton, 7, and granddaughter Jia, 2, looking on as they held their candles. About 75 locals gathered at Seventh and B streets in Colton, in front of the old Evans Market, on Jan. 14 in a candlelight vigil organized to honor a baby boy found dead near a trash can at this spot on the morning of Jan. 2. The child, who Colton police estimated was no older than two weeks old at the time of his death, was found clothed and wrapped in a blanket by a resident who was walking the family dog that morning. Colton police previously told the City News the infant boy, dubbed "Baby Colton Evans" for the area where he was found, did not look as if he had been born in a hospital and police did not know if the child had been dead prior to being left out in temperatures dipping below 30 degrees for at least a 12-hour period. Kagarise, a lifelong Colton resident and grandmother of four, said the story of Baby Colton could almost have been the same story of her granddaughter, just two months old. "My daughter is homeless and...she didn't have prenatal care. This could've been her. As a grandmother with custody of three of her four grandchildren, this just hits close to home," Kagarise said, tears in her eyes. Debbie Kairis-Wright, another lifelong Colton resident and a mother of a 4- and 1-and-a-half-year-old, organized Wednesday night's event. "I kept thinking about the story and how heartbreaking it sounded," she said. "Was he crying? Was he feeling alone? I felt so bad the way he had been abandoned." Kairis-Wright suggested on Facebook that a vigil be held; the idea received community-wide support. Kairis-Wright was also contacted by Debi Faris, the founder of Garden of Angels, a nonprofit organization that works to advocate for safe surrender and helps bury children who have died while abandoned. "When she found out about this, (Faris) was happy that the city cared enough about this to do something," said Kairis-Wright. Faris founded Garden of Angels in 1996 and helped enact safe surrender legislation in California, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2001. Statewide, 660 children have since been safely surrendered in California, she said. State law allows parents to surrender their newborn children, three days old or less, to any hospital, emergency room or fire station without fear of persecution. The law also allows a two week "cooling off" period, a time when parents have the opportunity to review their choice and work to get their child back. Garden of Angels also provides burial services for children who have been abandoned and died. Baby Colton will be the 110th baby the organization has laid to rest since 1996. "We hate for this tragedy to happen because it's the ultimate price a child has to pay for us to start talking about this (safe surrender) law," Faris said. "We just want to help people know that…if they find themselves desperate and confused, there are places they can safely surrender their child. At least then it gives the child a chance at life." The event included messages from Pastor Oly Chavez of Lighthouse of Christ church in Colton and Pastor Andy McRae of Grand Terrace's Azure Hills Church, as well as messages from Colton City Councilman Frank Navarro and Faris. Songs of hope and forgiveness were sung, candles lit and a somber moment of silence observed. Speakers and other attendees offered words of love to Baby Colton's mother. "We are not here tonight to judge or cast stones at anybody," Pastor Chavez said. "We don't know what happened, we don't understand what happened, but we are here to honor and memorialize this beautiful baby." Kagarise said, "There is forgiveness. Sometimes we make bad choices and sometimes the consequences are extreme, but there is forgiveness." Pastor McRae gave the closing word and prayer. "Darkness is deep, but we are people of the light," he said. "Darkness is in the world and the groups of people who provide burials for abandoned children, the people who gathered here tonight, they too are candles flickering in the darkness." Colton police are investigating the case and ask those with any information to contact Detective Wilson at 909-370-5021. Callers can remain anonymous. Burial services for the baby will be held Saturday, Jan. 24 at 11 a.m. at Desert Lawn Cemetery, 11251 Desert Lawn Dr., Calimesa. "Everyone is welcome to attend because we are all his family," said Faris.