Community honors boy with makeshift memorial
BLUFFTON, Ind. (WANE) – Dozens of community members gathered in front of the home where Owen Collins, 3, lived.
Community members gathered in the 500 block of Normandy Drive in the Mobile Manor Trailer Park for a makeshift memorial Monday night to honor a toddler found dead miles from home in the woods.
He was found dead in the woods in Liberty Center, Ind. and Owen’s mother, her boyfriend and boyfriend’s friend were arrested and charged in connection with the case. Todd Zorich, a family friend, was at the vigil and also helped in the search to find Owen on Sunday. He spoke to the father Monday.
“He said ‘thanks pops for getting out there and looking,’” Zorich said. “I’ll do that for any kid. It’s a small young man we all cared about.”
WISH-TV News sister station WANE News says those who knew Owen said he was quick-witted, enjoyed playing with his toys, loved watching cartoons, very social and a loving kid.
Zorich said he would come over and play with his grandsons.
“It was fun, you know. Fun being around him,” Zorich explained. “He was just so loving, very loving.”
The Wells County Coroner said Owen’s cause of death is pending, pending a toxicology report.