Dozens of mourners gather to remember Nalani Johnson

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. — Family, friends and community members gathered in Blairsville on Thursday night to remember the life of Nalani Johnson.

Prayer, song, and even a butterfly release to symbolize new life was all held for Nalani.

The vigil ended with one last word heard from Nalani's father.

"I want to say thank you. I never seen so much love in one place. It's astonishing. I have no words for it. I wish we could've met on better terms but everything happens for a reason," Paul Johnson said.

Nalani, who would have turned 2 years old this month, was the subject of an Amber Alert that began Saturday night in Penn Hills.

Her body was found more than two days later still strapped into a car seat in a Blairsville park.

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Cox Media Group