A young New Kensington girl murdered in 1979 was remembered Saturday with an outpouring of love by family and friends in JFK Playground along Fourth Avenue.
A bench in the park was dedicated to the memory of Tiffany Renee Miller, who was 5 years old when she went missing from her Peach Court home. Her body was found 5 miles away in the Allegheny River just more than a week later.
Tiffany’s death was ruled a homicide, and the case remains unsolved.
“For 43 years, not a day has passed without me thinking of her,” Tiffany’s uncle, Vince Miller, told a crowd of about 60.
He held back tears as he said, “This small town showing love for my beautiful niece is something I won’t forget.”
Doves were released into the bright blue sky while attendees listened to “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey.
“I’ve been missing this little child for 43 years, and we need some closure,” said Tiffany’s dad, Bill Butler. “Our child is loved, and this proves it.”
The ceremony was “the least that could be done for Tiffany,” said family friend Aaron Moore of Arnold. He spearheaded the event, which spilled onto the sidewalk of neighboring Mt. Calvary Mission Baptist Church.
Moore raised more than $1,700 to pay for the memorial bench, which on Saturday was surrounded by posters of Tiffany’s relatives who have passed away.
As people hugged and wiped away tears, others took turns recalling memories and offering gratitude for the special remembrance.
Tiffany’s sister, Brittany Craighead, took time to soak in the moment.
Craighead never met her older sister. She was born eight years after Tiffany’s death.
“It’s still painful to talk about,” she said. “This dedication is really nice. It is appreciated by the family.”
The event was also attended by Mayor Tom Guzzo and council members Tim DiMaio, Dante Cicconi and Corey Pistininzi.
“Today shows just how meaningful Tiffany’s life was,” Guzzo told the crowd. “It’s obvious by this outpouring of support that Tiffany was loved and that she will not be forgotten. If you think about it, that’s the highest honor any of us can ever ask for.”
Tiffany’s mother, Gail Rivera, said she’ll always have love in her heart for her daughter. She prays for the case to be solved.
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers announced in July 2020 that new information had been discovered in the case and that a $10,000 reward was being offered for information that solves it.
No details were released.
Another uncle, Darrell Miller, said that as difficult as it is to discuss Tiffany’s death, the ceremony was a beautiful tribute.
He encouraged those in attendance to make sure the bench and park are kept pristine as a way to honor his niece.
Darryl Johnson, pastor at Mt. Calvary, spurred the crowd to look around and remember the feeling of love.
“We’re celebrating a life,” he said. “We’re a city that’s come together, and it’s nice to see what unity looks like.
“From here on, there’s nothing left to do but love each other.”
Tawnya Panizzi is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tawnya at 724-226-7726, tpanizzi@triblive.com or via Twitter .