SAN ANTONIO – A West Side community came together Saturday to support a family mourning the loss of a loved one.
Natalie Chavez, 15, was discovered under a West Side bridge last week. Investigators believe she was strangled to death.
Family, friends and community members gathered Saturday at the VFW Post on Guadalupe Street to buy plates of menudo, as well as baked goods.
Diane Villarreal, who helped organize the fundraiser, said they've had a huge show of support, especially from the local car clubs, who came by and donated their time and menudo Saturday's event.
"My daughter walks to school early in the morning," said Villarreal. "It could have just been her, she could have been targeted, not just Natalie. But any of those kids that are walking from the courts, from the nearby neighborhoods, they all walk to school. So it broke my heart to meet the family and I needed to help."
All the money raised will go toward Natalie's funeral and a Crime Stoppers reward. Police are still searching for the person responsible for her murder.
Members of one of the car clubs are also donating a limousine for the funeral, which is set for Tuesday at Palm Heights Mortuary. The rosary will also be held there on Monday.
"I lost two little girls and it really hurts," said Gloria Morales, with Boss Dawg Limo Service. "And it's painful when you don't have money. So the same way somebody helped me, we decided to help them."
"I hope they find whoever did it. I hope they punish him good. I want justice for Natalie Chavez. She deserves it. She was a little girl. Nobody deserves this to happen to them," said family friend Graciela Maldonado.
"I see everybody loves my little girl," said Juan Pablo Chavez Jr., Natalie Chavez's father. "I'm never going to stop loving her and I want to thank everybody."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Antonio Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 224-STOP.