{"id":2889,"date":"2026-07-07T13:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T13:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=2889"},"modified":"2026-07-07T13:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T13:06:13","slug":"remembrance-walk-honors-zariah-dodd-one-year-after-her-murder-in-phoenix-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=2889","title":{"rendered":"Remembrance walk honors Zariah Dodd one year after her murder in Phoenix park"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PHOENIX \u2014 One year after pregnant teenager Zariah Dodd was shot and killed in a Phoenix park, those who knew and loved her gathered Sunday to honor her life with a remembrance walk and call for more protections for vulnerable teens.<\/p>\n

Read more WATCH: Mesa teen builds free scam detection tool to protect seniors from fraud<\/a><\/p>\n

The walk, titled “Her Dreams Still Matter,” was held from 7 to 9 a.m. at Marivue Park in west Phoenix. It aimed to bolster support for pregnant and parenting youth.<\/p>\n

For Richilyn Fox, Dodd’s former foster mother, the pain of losing Zariah is raw.<\/p>\n

“I did not birth her, but I loved her as I birthed her,” Fox said. “I’m left with like, feeling like I’m on a roller coaster that’s gonna fall. So it’s hard. I don’t wish this on anybody.”<\/p>\n

Dodd was 16 years old and 22 weeks pregnant when she was killed. She spent most of her life in the child welfare system and was living in a group home when she was killed last July.<\/p>\n

Fox described Dodd as someone who overcame significant hardship.<\/p>\n

“I would describe her as a child and person who conquered a lot in her life,” Fox said.<\/p>\n

Two men were charged in Dodd’s murder: Jurrell Davis, who investigators say fathered her unborn daughter, and Jechri James-Gillett. Both face trial.<\/p>\n

Fox still has questions about the decisions made before Dodd was killed.<\/p>\n

“Why that Zariah’s phone was not stripped from her, when they found out that she was in contact with a 36-year-old man?” Fox said. “Her location should have been moved from that group home, because he already knew where she was.”<\/p>\n

“It’s heavy, not just on me, but on the sisters that she left, the brother that she left,” Fox said. “I don’t know how you explain losing a child.”<\/p>\n

Dodd’s death, along with the death Rebekah Baptiste \u2014 another young girl with Department of Child Safety cases \u2014 prompted Arizona lawmakers to pass 13 child welfare reforms this year.<\/p>\n

“When the three girls were killed\u2026 it was just very clear that there were gaps in the system that allowed this to happen,” said Sen. Carine Werner, R-District 4.<\/p>\n

Read more Gadget prices are rising as chip shortages squeeze the tech industry<\/a><\/p>\n

One new law, which Werner says is inspired by Dodd’s case, now requires children who report sexual abuse to receive a forensic interview within 72 hours.<\/p>\n

“With Zariah Dodd, she was actually in waiting to have that AFIT done, and she was murdered prior to that happening,” Werner said.<\/p>\n

Shaniqua Hopkins, who founded the nonprofit 7th Dream Helping Hearts, hosted the walk Sunday and said her own experience in foster care drives her work.<\/p>\n

“Going through the foster care system, being moved from group home to group home, foster home to foster home, being homeless, not knowing when I was going to eat, not knowing where I was going to sleep \u2014 I always said I was going to change it for others like me,” Hopkins said.<\/p>\n

Fox added that the pattern of children running away from group homes is a warning sign that demands attention.<\/p>\n

“When you have multiple kids running away, you have a problem,” Fox said.<\/p>\n

The walk will continue next year. Our investigations into issues with DCS and pressing for change will also continue.<\/p>\n

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Emily Pike had been in the care of DCS. The above reporting has since been updated.<\/i><\/p>\n

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more \u2018We know how this story ends\u2019: Phoenix health provider warns Medicaid could see massive drop<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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