A memorial ride inspired by Carmen Ellis, victims of child abuse

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It was the Carmen Ellis Memorial Ride. A bike ride to honor a 3-year-old little girl who was the victim of child abuse.

According to the probable cause affidavit Carmen Ellis soiled her pants and it was her mother's boyfriend, Jose Cruz, who beat her to death.

Now Carmen's grandmother is trying to turn her family's tragedy into helping a good cause.

“She was such a huge part of my life I have to keep her memory alive and no one is going to forget her, they're going to get tired of hearing from me and I don't care,” says Tina Ellis, Carmen’s Grandmother.

David Strode is a firefighter and he was so moved by Carmen's story, he organized a memorial ride. In less than two months, 22 bikes were on hand to kick off a five hour ride all in the name of Carmen.

“This little child was trapped and, horribly beaten and abused, we need to do anything we can to get the word out, that this can not happen,” explains David Strode who helped organize the event.

Tina Ellis hopes to raise money in the fight against child abuse. She wants her granddaughter's story to inspire people to take a stand.

“Everybody's going to know her forever as long as I'm alive,” says Tina Ellis. “That's what I want to do that's my new passion and my new focus in life right now.”

Strode says in his line of work, he has seen cases of child abuse, but Carmen's story spoke to him and he hopes it speaks to all parents. “We all get angry with children, but we have to put ourselves in time out and take a break and think about what we're doing before we do anything,” says Strode.

Tina Ellis says, she hopes to have this ride every year, around Carmen's birthday, which is May 19. If you would like to donate, it’s the Carmen Ellis Memorial Fund at PNC bank. All the money raised from the memorial ride is going to Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.

 If convicted, Jose Cruz, the man accused of killing Carmen Ellis, is facing life without parole.