BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
An angel, stuffed animals, floweres and a cross mark the street where Mary Love's body was found.
(Malinda Rackley photo)
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As the community said goodbye to 6-year-old Mary Love at a public visitation Thursday, a Hamilton County grand jury indicted her neighbor on three counts of aggravated murder in her strangulation death.
Mary Love
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Each aggravated murder count has a different specification that qualifies Ralph L. Lynch, 48, for the death penalty if he is convicted. One count says the murder involved rape, another count says the murder involved kidnapping and the third count says he murdered someone under 13 years old.
Mr. Lynch, of Arborwood Drive, Colerain Township, was also indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping and gross abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors think he raped Mary and strangled her in his second-floor apartment at Springwood Village on June 24. They said they think he raped her again after she was dead, which is why he is charged with gross abuse of a corpse, said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters.
Mary's body was dumped in a woods three miles from her home within a few hours, he said.
"This despicable, animalistic act deserves the harshest penalty," said Mr. Deters. He promised Mr. Lynch would be shown no mercy. "Our evidence is overwhelming in this case."
Meanwhile, a steady stream of mourners -- from as far as Birmingham, Ala. -- paid their respects to Mary at a public visitation at Donald & Stewart Funeral Home in North Avondale.
Outside the funeral home, police officers helped with traffic and pink ribbons were tied around white light posts.
Inside, teary-eyed community members who didn't even know Mary walked by her tiny white casket covered with pink and white flowers.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 people paid their respects throughout the day for the little girl who loved to skate, play with her baby dolls and friends. In an obituary handed out at the visitation, her family also remembered her as someone who loved to go to church and eat pizza.
"Mary was afraid of dogs," the obituary said, "however, she loved everyone and showed it with hugs."
A second visitation will run from 8:30 a.m. today until services at 10 a.m. at Mary's church, Immanuel Baptist, 2929 Springdale Road in Bevis. She will be buried in Spring Grove Cemetery.
