Vigil held for double murder victims

Remembering a mother and daughter taken too soon. In the southeast community of Cranston a vigil takes place on Mother's Day to honour 25-year-old Jasmine Lovett and 22-month-old daughter Aliyah Sanderson.

CALGARY – People gathered at a Cranston park on Sunday evening to remember a young Calgary mother and her daughter who were taken too soon.

Jasmine Lovett, 25, and her 22-month-old baby girl Aliyah were reported missing in March, and weeks later their bodies were found in the Kananaskis region. Robert Leeming, 34, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in their deaths.

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Purple and white ribbons are sprinkled through the southeast community where the two lived, and those attending the Mother’s Day vigil lit up the ridge near the park with candles in remembrance of the pair.

Aliyah’s aunt and grandmother, Amber and Jodi Sanderson, organized the event.

“We will be gathering in the Cranston Family Park across from their home for a candlelight vigil to honor them and to thank the community for all of their support during this trying time,” reads the Facebook event.

“We want to line the ridge by the river with as many people and candles as possible for a moment of remembrance, we want to make the ridge glow so bright it can be seen from Stoney Trail and all surrounding communities!”

The family has also left a comment to the community on the event page, saying they are grateful for all the support from fellow Calgarians.

A local Sobey’s that was selling cupcakes to raise money for funeral costs for the family has since run out, and a GoFundMe page for them has now raised over $55,000.

READ MORE: Victims of domestic abuse face danger when trying to leave: experts

Co-chair of Calgary Domestic Violence Collective says that deaths like these take a toll on the whole community.

“The community is always impacted like this, the community is always impacted by a loss that is a violent loss,” said Andrea Silverstone, co-chair of Calgary Domestic Violence Collective. “All of us are partners in ending domestic violence.”

Investigators believe that the accused knew the victims and that their deaths came after Lovett ended her on-again-off-again relationship with Leeming. Leeming had said in media interviews before he was charged that he and Lovett had been involved but were not together at that time.

The victims’ cause of death will not be released by police.

-with files from Kendra Fowler

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