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Little Rock family celebrates sentencing of relatives' killer


The family of Mariah Cunningham releases balloons at Haven of Rest Cemetery
The family of Mariah Cunningham releases balloons at Haven of Rest Cemetery
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A man has been convicted of capital murder for killing a Little Rock woman and her two kids.

On Thursday, jurors sentenced Michael Collins to life in prison without parole.

In 2017 Collins murdered 24-year-old Mariah Cunningham and her two children inside her apartment.

The family of the three victims said they could hardly make it through the trial. But on Saturday they took a tender moment to celebrate this verdict.

The family told KATV this week they've had to relive the trauma and learn gruesome details they didn't know before.

“Mariah, we love you!” The family said to the skies as they released balloons at Haven of Rest Cemetery.

There have been very few good days since the family lost three of their own.

"To die in such a heinous manner--she didn't deserve it,” said Derykka Miller, Cunningham’s cousin. “The children didn't deserve it. But we love her forever. We'll never forget her."

Miller said they had hoped Collins would receive the death penalty, but they’re content with his life sentence.

"We are celebrating that because we lost three lives, and he should lose his as well," Miller said.

Miller said the past two years have been excruciating--most of all for Cunningham's surviving daughter.

"There really was no justice,” relative Wilma Santana said. “And there still is no peace for us, because she's not among us anymore.”

The family placed flowers on their graves--the mother and children buried next to family.

"It's just symbolic of our everlasting love for her," Santana said.

A toy helmet and crown were placed on the headstone for the little ones.

"They would just be happy that we came to bat for them," Miller said.

The family said they'll only move forward together--with love--holding each other up.

"We're releasing them to the heavens,” Miller said as balloons floated away. “Where they are."

The family said many of them will be back for the trial of William Alexander, who’s also being charged in the murders.

That trial is set for next month.

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