Family Car, Memorial For Murdered Child Set Ablaze In Saginaw
SAGINAW (CBSDFW.COM) -- Police say a memorial setup to honor a child found murdered last week in Saginaw was set on fire overnight. The family's car in the driveway was also torched.
Six-year-old Alanna Gallagher's nude body was found bound and covered with a tarp on a residential street in Saginaw on July 1.
"It's very disheartening at this time, because of course we're having to shift manpower to this investigation off of the Alanna Gallagher case," said Damon Ing with Saginaw Police. "Now we have to investigate an arson."
Ing says that, while the fire was clearly intentional, it is unclear if there is any connection to the girl's murder.
"It did happen at the same residence where [Alanna] did reside, but right now the investigation is still in its beginning," said Ing. "As far as having any attachment, we don't know."
Police have not yet listed any suspects in the child's murder.
According to neighbors, the girl was often seen playing unsupervised outside.
Speaking last week, Alanna's biological father expressed the family's desperation for answers.
"I know that the odds are high that it's a family member in this sort of situation," said father Miles McDaniel. "I can tell you that anyone that knows our family would know better."
Hundred of items were seized from the Gallagher home, including duct tape, belts and restraints.
The FBI placed a number of digital billboards around the DFW area last week to solicit tips. The billboards mention a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to the killer's arrest.
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