A community is still grieving one year after four-year-old Breonna Loftin's death.
Investigators say she suffered months of child abuse and say Jason Delacerda, the boyfriend of the child's mother, admits to causing some of it.
He faces the death penalty if found guilty after his January 28 trial.
In September, the Hardin County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue the death penalty against Loftin's mother, Amanda Guidry.
The Hardin County Sheriff's Office says she admitted to not reporting her child's abuse.
On this anniversary, the most troubling part for those who knew Breonna Loftin is that they never knew she was being abused over a period of several months, and did not step in to stop it.
Children play in the neighborhood across the street from where police say the four-year-old was beaten to death.
A horrible thought for neighbor Michael Cavaretta.
"Seeing a little girl like that, being a father myself, you don't do that to a child. You just don't," said Cavaretta.
While a loveable picture hangs above the child's grave, Captain Gary Spears with the Hardin County Sheriff's Office says he still remembers images of Breonna in the hospital.
"It broke my heart when I went into the hospital and saw her," said Capt. Spears.
Her cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head.
"I know if you saw a picture of her six months before her death and saw a picture of her at the time of death, you would not even recognize her," said Capt. Spears.
Investigators say Breonna sustained broken bones, bruises and burns all over her body, and had been sexually abused.
Her injuries were in various stages of healing indicating the abuse had happened over a period of months.
"You want to prevent this, and you feel frustrated that you couldn't, that you got there after the fact," said Capt. Spears.
A feeling shared by family and neighbors who say they rarely saw the child outside in the months prior to her death.
"Be aware of your neighbors and what's going on," reminds Cavaretta, hoping to prevent another death like Breonna's.
If you notice suspicious injuries on a child or feel you need to report abuse, Capt. Spears says don't hesitate to call the Sheriff's Office.
Prosecutors aren't sure if Amanda Guidry will be a witness in the trial against Delacerda in January.
A trial date has not yet been set for Guidry.
