Jan. 16, 2008, 11:34PM

Many of those offering comfort in Ohio didn't know family

MENTOR, OHIO —

Pink balloons were released into the wintry sky after the funeral in Ohio on Wednesday for 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, who was allegedly beaten to death by her mother and stepfather and thrown into Galveston Bay.

Mourners filled St. Bede the Venerable Roman Catholic Church here to pay their final respects to the 2-year-old girl, who was known as Baby Grace until her identity was determined. The remains of the child were found in a plastic container by a fisherman in Galveston Bay on Oct. 29.

"God has given Riley to us to lead us. A child leads us today with greater respect for all children," said the Rev. Tom Johns, who led the service.

Riley's great-uncle, Mike Nedelski, said the family was touched by the compassion shown over her death. "People all over the world adored this child. She was loved and cherished by everyone."

Laura DePledge, an attorney for Riley's family, said about 300 mourners filled the church.

"They'd come up to Sheryl or Robert and say, 'You don't know me but I have a granddaughter or I have a daughter and I wanted you to know we care,' " DePledge said of Riley's paternal grandmother, Sheryl Sawyers, and her father, Robert Sawyers. "There were a lot of tears."

In attendance were four Galveston County Sheriff's deputies who worked on the case, along with members of Texas EquuSearch.

The balloon release was timed to coincide with similar releases in her memory in other cities in the United States and other countries.

Some balloons had cards attached with Riley's picture and an address where the finder could return it to her family in Ohio. One posting, signed Susan al Bassam, said 50 balloons were launched from Kuwait.

She wrote: "Kuwait was unusually cold today, with strong winds. My children and I said a final prayer as we released the balloons into the night sky."

Riley's remains were flown to Ohio on Monday, the same day her mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, was in a Galveston County court on the capital murder charge filed against her.

Trenor, 19, who is about four months pregnant, and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, both of Spring, are charged with capital murder and evidence tampering.

Trenor and Zeigler are accused of killing Riley on July 25 during a disciplinary session at their Spring home.

Both remain in the Galveston County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail each.

Chronicle reporter Ruth Rendon contributed to this story.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/natwld/5459990.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor