“A MOTHER SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PLAN HER CHILD’S FUNERAL” — HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR MIYA DEAMER-JONES, 11

After losing her husband three years ago, Katie Jones is now facing another devastating loss: the death of her youngest daughter, Miya. Friends have launched a fundraiser to help the family arrange her funeral and create a lasting memorial for the little girl they say was deeply loved.

An English village has been left heartbroken after 11-year-old Miya Deamer-Jones was found dead near a cricket ground in Worcestershire.

Miya was reported missing from her family home in Elmley Castle on Sunday night, October 4, 2026. Her body was later discovered in an open area near Elmley Castle Cricket Club.

The tragedy has brought renewed attention to the grief facing her family. According to reports, Miya’s father died from cancer around three years ago, and her death has left her mother, Katie Jones, and her three sisters facing another unimaginable loss.

“EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE”

Rebecca Lippitt, a childhood friend of Katie’s, launched an online fundraiser to help cover Miya’s funeral expenses and provide a lasting gravestone.

In the appeal, Rebecca described Miya as Katie’s “precious youngest daughter” and said the family’s hearts had been completely broken.

She wrote that no mother should have to make funeral arrangements for her child while trying to process such devastating news.

The fundraiser is intended to ease some of the financial pressure on Katie and her daughters, giving them the opportunity to say goodbye to Miya and create a special place where they can remember her.

Rebecca also appealed to people who could not donate to share the fundraiser, hoping that the wider community would help the family feel supported during an exceptionally painful time.

A FAMILY’S LOSS FELT BY THE WHOLE VILLAGE

Miya was the youngest of four sisters and, according to the fundraiser, was deeply loved by her mother and siblings.

News of her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from friends, neighbours and members of the local community. Flowers and messages have been left near the area where she was found, as people try to express their sympathy for a family whose lives have changed forever.

The loss has also touched people who did not know Miya personally but have been moved by the circumstances facing her family.

For Katie and her daughters, the coming days will be filled with difficult arrangements and the challenge of learning to live with an absence that cannot be replaced.

POLICE CONFIRM A MAJOR UPDATE

Miya’s death initially prompted enquiries by West Mercia Police to establish what had happened.

On October 7, police confirmed that extensive enquiries had found no evidence of suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement. The death is no longer being treated as a criminal investigation.

A full file is being prepared for HM Coroner, who will consider the circumstances in due course.

The update came after speculation circulated online about events near the cricket ground. Police urged the public to avoid sharing unverified claims, warning that doing so could cause further distress to a family already dealing with profound grief.

The precise circumstances surrounding Miya’s death have not been publicly established.

HELPING MIYA’S FAMILY SAY GOODBYE

The fundraising appeal has given friends and supporters a way to offer practical help when words alone cannot ease the family’s pain.

The money is intended to help with funeral costs and a gravestone, creating a permanent place for Katie and her daughters to visit and remember Miya.

Rebecca’s message was ultimately a plea for kindness: to surround the family with love, support and the reassurance that they are not facing this loss alone.

No amount of money can bring Miya home. But for those organising the appeal, every donation and every shared message represents a small act of support for a mother and sisters navigating a life-changing tragedy.

Miya’s family now faces the difficult task of saying goodbye to a girl who, according to those closest to her, will always hold an irreplaceable place in their hearts.