Family of dead baby vows to follow court case against babysitter

CINCINNATI - After a second vigil for 1-year-old William Cunningham in two days, his family is now vowing to follow the case of his babysitter through its run in court. They say they want to get answers as to what led to the baby's death as well as getting justice for the child and his family.

More than 100 family members, friends and neighbors showed up in Winton Terrace Sunday night to hold a candlelight vigil for the child. They also asked for the group to start giving what they could to a fund being set up to pay for the 1-year-old's funeral. Arrangements were still pending Sunday night.

After lighting dozens of candles and saying a prayer, the baby's mother, Kiara Carter, sobbed and then bent over in tears as she coped with his death.

"He was a wonderful baby. So many of you will never get to know the joy he brought. This baby never deserved what happened to him," Carter said.

A great grandmother and her husband drove up from their Tennessee home on Sunday to help their relatives deal with Cunningham's unexpected death.

"It's been a real tragedy. It was my great grandchild. My third great grandchild. All we want to do is find some justice and some peace with the situation," she said.

Cunningham's babysitter, Marquita Burch, 26, originally told Covington police on Friday that the baby was missing. She later changed her story, directing Cincinnati police to a Winton Road apartment. The baby's body was found there Saturday morning in a hallway closet.

READ MORE: Babysitter claims ibuprofen, fall led to 1-year-old's death http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_central_cincinnati/downtown/Babysitter-claims-ibuprofen-fall-led-to-1-year-olds-death .

Burch was arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning in Room A of the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for updates as they become available.