Santa Cruz

Slain 8-Year-Old Maddy Middleton's Life Celebrated at Memorial at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz

Madyson "Maddy" Middleton's smiling face was front and center at a memorial Sunday hosted in her honor by the Santa Cruz Warriors at Kaiser Permanente Arena.

The 8-year-old girl, who was reported missing July 26, was last seen riding her Razor scooter around the Tannery Arts Center, where she lived, police said.

The next night, Santa Cruz police detectives found Maddy's dead body in a recycling bin in the parking garage. They arrested her neighbor, Adrian Jerry Gonzalez, 15, on suspicion of homicide.

But starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, Maddy was remembered for her love of popcorn, pretzels, cheese, and butterflies and wolves alike.

Memorial attendees were greeted by harpist Jesse Autumn, followed by bagpiper Jay Salter who led Maddy's family and Tannery Arts Center community members onto a makeshift stage framed by large photographs of the beaming girl.

Santa Cruz Warriors President Jim Weyermann kicked off the celebration — which also included a "howl at the moon" dedication and musical performances — with a few words.

"I've never seen anyone so strong, so steady, faced with such tragedy in her life," he said of Laura Jordan, Maddy's mother.

Meanwhile, poet and family friend Jasmine Schlafke asked guests to join her in making a pact in honor of the slain child who she described as "spicy and smart and incredible and very committed to love."

"We promise to remember your spirit with love; to foster a community that is safer for children; to create the kind of loving community your parents would heal in," she said. "We love you, Maddy."

For her part, Jordan kept her remarks brief. Thanking attendees and the public for their "kindness" and "support," she added: "Though Maddy’s not with us physically, she will always be with us."

Mayor Don Lane, who presented Jordan with a proclamation in Maddy's honor, further declared Oct. 5 — which would have been the child's ninth birthday — "Maddy Middleton Day." He invited residents to honor the beloved girl by "singing 'Happy Birthday,'" "eating mini-cupcakes" and recommitting themselves to making "the best community possible for the children of Santa Cruz."

Lane also acknowledged that Maddy's death sent shockwaves throughout the Santa Cruz community.

At a press conference after Maddy's body was discovered, Police Chief Kevin Vogel said that Gonzalez "lured" Maddy to his apartment where he killed her. The boy then brought her body down to the dumpster, making sure to hide it.

District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell announced thereafter that Gonzalez will be tried as an adult. His charges include one count of murder that includes special circumstances of lying in wait, kidnap and sexual assault, and other counts related to sexual offenses and kidnapping. The maximum penalty for the crimes is life in prison, Rosell said, as the death penalty is not applicable to minors.

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