“PLEASE HELP US GIVE MIYA THE FAREWELL SHE DESERVES”: MOTHER MOURNS 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD NEAR VILLAGE CRICKET GROUND
“PLEASE HELP US GIVE MIYA THE FAREWELL SHE DESERVES”: MOTHER MOURNS 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD NEAR VILLAGE CRICKET GROUND
Katie Jones is facing an unimaginable loss after her youngest daughter, Miya Deamer-Jones, died aged just 11. A fundraiser launched by a lifelong friend is helping the family with funeral costs and a memorial.
ELMLEY CASTLE, WORCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND — The family of 11-year-old Miya Deamer-Jones is grieving after the schoolgirl was found dead in an open area near the village cricket ground, hours after she was reported missing.
Miya was reported missing at around 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026. West Mercia Police said she was later found in a park near Elmley Castle Cricket Club. Her death initially was treated as unexplained while officers worked to establish the circumstances.
In the days that followed, her mother, Katie Jones, and Miya’s three sisters received an outpouring of sympathy from the local community and people touched by the family’s loss.
A MOTHER FACING EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE
A fundraising appeal organized by Rebecca Lippitt, a childhood friend of Katie, describes Miya as a precious and deeply loved youngest daughter.
The appeal explains that the family is facing the painful task of arranging a funeral and securing a lasting memorial while coping with the sudden loss of their child and sister.
It asks people to support the family through donations or by sharing the appeal, helping ease some of the financial pressure during an extraordinarily difficult time.
The fundraiser also emphasizes the bond between Miya and her sisters, describing the void left by her absence as one that can never be filled.
THE FAMILY HAD ALREADY SUFFERED A MAJOR LOSS
Miya’s father died from cancer three years before her death, according to reports. The loss has added another layer of heartbreak for the family.
Friends and neighbours have shared their condolences, while flowers and messages have been left near the area where Miya was found. The village has been left shaken by the death of a child known to those around her.
For her family, Miya was much more than a name in a news report. She was a daughter and sister whose place in their home and everyday lives cannot be replaced. T
West Mercia Police initially described Miya’s death as unexplained. Following detailed inquiries, however, the force announced on October 7 that officers had found no evidence of suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement.
Police confirmed that the case would not be treated as a criminal investigation. A report was to be prepared for the coroner, who will consider the circumstances of Miya’s death.
Chief Inspector Daniel Pilkington also urged the public to avoid speculation and the sharing of unverified information, warning that doing so could cause additional distress to a family already enduring an immense loss.
HELPING MIYA’S FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
The fundraiser aims to help Katie and her daughters cover funeral expenses and provide Miya with a gravestone and a place where they can visit and remember her.
Its message is a simple request for kindness: those who cannot donate can still share the appeal and keep the family in their thoughts.
No contribution can take away the grief of losing a child, but the support of friends, neighbours and strangers can help a family feel less alone as it faces the days ahead.
Miya was only 11 years old. As her loved ones remember the youngest member of their family, their focus is on giving her a loving farewell and preserving the memories of a little girl who meant so much to them.
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