LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A Southern Nevada family told 8 News Now a 12-year-old boy’s phone and memorial site were stolen after he was hit and killed by a car.
“He was a young little boy that was happy,” Rebecka Ayers said of her nephew.
Ayers and her family said they are doing what they can to remember a child whose life was unexpectedly cut short.
12-year-old Lakoda Hamilton was hit and killed by a car at the intersection of Irene Street and Our Road in Pahrump on November 6.
“He always wanted to help people,” Ayers said of Lakoda. “His favorite thing was cars.”
Ayers shared with 8 News Now Friday the sorrow she and her family are still feeling.
“My heart will never be complete again,” she said. “I am torn apart.”
Ayers said she and her loved ones are now navigating a new type of trauma weeks after Lakoda’s death.
“My nephew’s phone has been found by somebody,” Ayers said. “And they texted me.”
She told 8 News Now she believes someone found Lakoda’s phone after the crash. That person has since texted her multiple times with messages such as “I miss you” and “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Ayers said each message she receives hurts her more.
“It’s rude and disgusting,” Ayers said. “For people to do stuff like that.”
Ayers said her family is also trying to figure out what happened to the memorial they built for Lakoda at the crash site.
She told 8 News Now that inexplicably disappeared around November 24, right after they held a vigil in his honor.
“His pictures and his bear and stuff like that that was at his memorial site,” she explained. “I don’t understand why anybody would take his stuff.”
Ayers hopes that sharing his story and these ongoing struggles can encourage those who took these things to return them.
“I want his phone back,” she said. “Because there are many things on that phone that mean a lot to all of us.”
Therefore, those who loved Lakoda most can keep his memory alive while they try their best to move forward without him.
“I never thought my nephew would go before me,” Ayers concluded. “He was a joyful kid.”
Nevada State Police said the crash is still under investigation.
Anyone who would like to help Lakoda’s family can reach out to hamiltonlisa22@gmail.com.
