It was a solemn moment, as family and friends of 21-month-old Tiffany Sue Banks-Cross watched the children's flag being raised in her memory. The toddler, who was in foster care, died April 2.
The moment was overwhelming for Tiffany's biological relatives. "I'm really hurting," said Felicia Banks, Tiffany's biological mother. Tiffany's young cousin agrees. "Yeh, it makes me mad, too," said 6-year-old Michael Watson.
Trumbull County's Parents of Murdered Children raised the flag Thursday to remember the toddler. The Trumbull County Children Services Board took custody of Tiffany shortly after her birth in June 2007. Tiffany's biological family lost permanent custody of her in November.
"We pledge to work with the coroner's office, prosecutors and police to investigate Tiffany's death," said Marcia Tiger, director of Trumbull County Children Services. "The flag will also fly at our agency and I promise to keep it flying until justice is served for little Tiffany."
Family members say they still want answers to what happened to Tiffany and are hoping they will will soon find out.
No arrests have been made in the case, which is frustrating to both of Tiffany's biological grandmothers. "I hope this brings justice for every child," said Ova Hall, Tiffany's grandmother. "I hope Tiffany did not die in vain." Tiffany's maternal grandmother Loretta Banks agrees. "It hurts no one has been arrested yet," Banks said. "I want to make sure they pay for what they did to her."
