'In Our Hearts Forever': Vigil For Fairfield Hit-And-Run Victim

FAIRFIELD, CT — A hushed crowd gathered Thursday as night fell in Greenfield Hill. They were there to say goodbye to Marileidy Morel Araujo.

Araujo was killed in a hit-and-run crash on the Fourth of July while walking her dog outside the Fairfield home of her fiancé’s sister, Denise Fernandez.

“She became like a sister to me,” Fernandez said.

Outside the door to Fernandez’s home in the 2000 block of Redding Road was a poster with photographs of Araujo. On a board decorated with butterfly stickers — Araujo loved butterflies — friends and family wrote memories of and messages to the deceased. Those who knew Araujo stood in a circle, holding votive candles, as the Rev. Tim Iannacone of St. Pius X Parish led them in prayer.

“All of those memories that we have with her — if we remember those memories in our hearts and our minds, then she will never die,” he said.

Araujo, a 32-year-old resident of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, had traveled to Fairfield with her fiancé, Danny Fernandez, to spend July Fourth with family. Araujo worked in real estate marketing, and planned to get married later in the year and start a family.

READ MORE: Woman Killed In Fairfield Hit-And-Run 'A Hard Worker, A Dreamer'

“Mari is very special to all of us, and she’ll stay in our hearts forever,” Danny said to the crowd Thursday.

Among those in attendance was Georgiana Stavrolakes, who lives across the street from Denise and witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

“It was really hard,” she said.

Speeding is a problem in the neighborhood, Stavrolakes said. She and her fiancé often veer into the grass or cross the road to stay safe when they’re out walking.

“I'll just see these cars, just flying up and down the hill,” she said.

Melissa Speight, who is also a Greenfield Hill resident, agreed that speeding is an issue. Speight is an acquaintance of Denise.

“She’s going to make sure that (Araujo) gets justice,” Speight said.

Charged in connection with the crash is Declan P. Kot, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter from Easton. Kot is facing several charges, including misconduct with a motor vehicle and evading responsibility in operating a vehicle resulting in death.

The case remains under investigation, although it is up to prosecutors whether to add more charges, said Sgt. Michael Paris, who attended Thursday’s vigil.

“We are supplying them with every piece of information as we get it daily,” he said.

Paris was one of two members of the Fairfield Police Department at the vigil.

“These cases touch us emotionally,” he said. “… We want to show that we support them.”

Denise said she intends to set up a fund in Araujo’s memory to help children with their educations.

After the vigil Thursday, many lingered at the site of the crash to shed a tear for Araujo or add a candle to a growing memorial of lights, flowers and decorative butterflies.