Classmates of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, whose body was found in a barrel earlier this year, have headed back to school with “one less friend”.
The family of the girl is also dealing with another tragedy after her two-year-old cousin was diagnosed with cancer.
Ryder Mutten was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma just days before Christmas last year and a few weeks before Charlise went missing and was later discovered dead with gunshot wounds.
Charlise’s 31-year-old stepfather, Justin Stein, waxjmtzyws charged with her murder. Her mother is not suspected of being involved and has struggled with health issues since she disappeared.
While normally marking an opportunity for a fresh start, this school year began with memories of the nine-year-old whose life was cut tragically short.
Tweed Shire Deputy Mayor Reece Byrnes was at the school on Tuesday to support students and staff as classes resumed, The Daily Mail reported.
“It’s a sad day, and this school returns with one less friend, one less special little human. It’s a tragic day for her friends, the school community and her teachers who had watched her grow up,” Mr Byrnes said.
As Charlise’s school, Tweed Heads Public, planned to remove flowers and cards left at the gates in tribute to Charlise, a more permanent tribute was also in the works.
Flowers and other plant material that was left would be mulched and used to create a special memorial area, while cards would be collated into a memorial book to be given to the family, principal Peter Nichols said.
“On behalf of the school, I sincerely thank you for all the cards, flowers and other items placed at our fence,” he said.
“Every one of them acknowledges how much we all loved Charlise and how much we will all miss her.”
A fundraiser was set up to assist the family of Ryder as he undergoes treatment.
Parents Melissa Sakiri and Beau Mutten described their heartache at dealing with their own son’s illness as news of Charlise’s sad fate came to light.
“It’s been a hard few months, to say the least,” Mr Mutten told The Daily Mail.
“It was a total shock to us … This whole situation came out of the blue … I wish this nightmare would end,” mother Melissa said.
“My father passed away from aggressive, rare cancer … this has really turned our world upside down and changed everything.”
The fundraiser asks for help covering fuel costs, parking, medications and other costs as Mr Mutten was forced to take time off work to drive his son to and from treatment.
“If we all just give up something small, it will mean mountains to them,” the fundraiser page said.
