The body of a seven-year-old Richlands girl who was poisoned five years ago is being removed from Onslow County.

Kayla Allen died on August 24, 2003 and nearly a year passed before her foster mother, Carolyn Futrell, was charged in her death. Futrell's trial ended in April with her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.

Now that the trial is over, the girl's family is having her body exhumed from an Onslow County cemetery and reburied in her home state of Michigan.

Kayla was buried in a Futrell family cemetery, across the road from Carolyn Futrell's one-time home.

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/27430894.html

Five years ago a seven-year-old girl died at her home and now her family is hoping they can find closure by moving her remains to their hometown. It's a story we've been following since it happened in August of 2003. Seven-year-old Kayla Allen died after drinking pesticide. A jury found her care giver, Carolyn Futrell guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Now Kayla's biological mother wants to bring her daughter home. Nicole Allen says the family is still trying to cope with losing Kayla and says visiting her grave, just down the road from where she died is almost unbearable.

"I'm glad I never have to come back or drive down the road and see the house where it all happened in," says Allen.

Having Kayla's grave near family, Allen hopes will start their healing process. She says they've waited five years for this but a lengthy murder trial surrounding Kayla's death kept the move from happening. Allen says while she is relieved to finally bring her baby home she adds knowing Carolyn Futrell is a free woman is hard to swallow. Allen thinks involuntary manslaughter wasn't enough.

Allen says, "Not for me. I can't speak for the rest of my family but for me no, it didn't help." What does help Allen says are the generous donations and support from Hope4KidZ who made bringing Kayla back to Michigan possible.

"Kayla and my mother will be buried next to each other in Michigan Memorial Park and it will be closure for my mother and my daughter," says Allen.

While this isn't the way she hoped to bring her daughter home Nicole Allen just hopes that now little Kayla will finally rest in peace.

Michigan Memorial Park is donating the plot where the family plans to bury Kayla. The Allen's are planning a memorial for the little girl later this week.

http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/
family_moves_kayla_allens_remains_to_michigan/17340/