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LANGHORNE, Pa. (WTXF) - "We lost a very important little girl. The world lost a spark. She should still be here with us," said Heather Giglilo.
Giglilo is simply heartbroken after learning her happy, energetic 7-year-old niece Kayden Mancuso was found dead in what Philadelphia police are calling a murder-suicide. Detectives say her father killed her before taking his own life.
"She was talented. She was an athlete. She was a dancer. She sang. She did everything. She got straight A's and now she doesn't get to do any of that. Now we don't get to know what she becomes," Giglilo explained.
The family says Monday morning, Kayden's stepfather found her body inside a home on the 4500 block of Wilde Street in Manayunk.
The horrifying discovery was made after family members went looking for Kayden when she was not returned to her mom, after spending the weekend with her dad.
"Maybe another kid can be saved from this if anything, but it's not going to bring our little girl back," Giglilo added.
Heather says Kayden's parents were in a bitter custody dispute.
"They treated my sister like she was just this bitter woman who didn't like her ex," Giglilo said.
"You're talking about the courts?" FOX 29's Dave Kinchen asked.
"Yeah, like she just wanted to get back at her ex. Like she knew he was dangerous. We knew he was violent," Giglilo said.
The Snapchat clip, her pictures and her bicycle are all the family has left of a shining star.
"Pray for my family and my sister. Give them strength because we're going to need it," Giglilo stated.
Anyone wishing to help with funeral expenses can do so by visiting Kayden's GoFundMe.