HARRISONBURG — When a hunter found the remains of 12-year-old Lexis Kaye Roberts in the woods near Harrisonburg in October, local resident Cindie Crawford and her fellow small town citizens were devastated.

“We were all just shocked that they actually found a child’s body here,” she said. “You hear about stuff like this happening in New York and places like that, but not in a small town like Harrisonburg. It shocked us all.”

Crawford said she and the rest of the parents in the town kept their children close to home during the course of the investigation.

“We were all just scared,” she said. “We wouldn’t let our children go anywhere without being close to them.”

After more than a month of investigating, Roberts alleged kidnapper and murderer Thomas Steven Sanders was caught, bringing a sigh of relief to Crawford and the town.

“We had a candlelight vigil for (Roberts) so she could be properly remembered,” she said.

During this vigil, Crawford said the town’s residents came up with an idea to collect money to send Roberts’ remains to her family in Nevada.

“We just started taking up money at the vigil,” she said. “We all just thought it would be the right thing to do.”

Since then Crawford said the town has collected approximately $800 to help with the costs.

“Harrisonburg is just a village, and the number isn’t that high,” she said. “But we decided it was best to try and chip in as much money as we can to help her grandparents pay for the costs.”

Crawford said since the state does not help cover the cost of shipping the remains, the town knew it would have to collect whatever it could to help cover the expenses.

“If we didn’t help, it would be all on her family to pay,” she said. “We all thought they have been through enough already, and we just wanted to help out.”

While Crawford doesn’t know the exact cost of shipping the remains, she did say it was expensive.

“Anything we can help with is something they don’t have to pay,” she said.

Crawford said the remains have yet to be released from the state, and there is still time for people in the area to donate to the cause.

“We are doing what we can,” she said. “This was a real tragedy that took place, and we just want to help make sure we are doing what we can to help the people most affected by it.”

Crawford said anyone who wants to donate to the fund can send a check to The Station, a convenience store she operates in Harrisonburg.

“You can come by the store or mail it in to us,” she said. “Any money you can give is a big help.”

Crawford said checks need to be made out to the Benefits for Alexis Roberts and addressed to The Station, P.O. Box 247, Harrisonburg, La., 71340.