Family & Friends Celebrate Missing Girl's Birthday, Hope She'll Be Found

WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Relisha Rudd, the little girl who vanished in northeast DC, is being remembered.

Mike Schuh reports some still have hope the eight-year-old is still alive, even though she hasn't been seen since March 2014.

With prayer, song and dance, family and friends gathered in DC to celebrate what would have been Relisha Rudd's 10th birthday and comfort her family.

"We also want to keep her face out there because this child didn't drop off the face of the earth," said one woman.

In March of 2014, Relisha was eight, had a winning smile---and was missing.

She was last seen alive with the janitor at the DC general homeless shelter, where Rudd lived with her family. When police went looking, they found his body but no trace of Relisha---and he had killed himself.

It's an ugly set of facts surrounding a beautiful child.

"I pray for her safe return," said another woman.

Those who started a group "We Are Relisha" organized a remembrance and continue to hope and search for a miracle.

"We will not forget her," said one woman.

DC police and the FBI say they're still working the case.