WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The family of a woman who went missing and was found dead in southeast Wichita on Tuesday is ensuring that her memory is not tarnished by her death.
The Wichita Police Department said they found the body around 5:30 p.m. They believed that it was 31-year-old Mariana Christian.
Mariana, known to her loved ones as Mari or Nicki, was reported missing just over a week ago. She had last been seen on July 19.
Her family confirmed that the body found in Cottonwood Park, near Bayley and Armour, was Mariana. Now, they’re using this time to share her light with the world.
“First off, I want to say that Mari did not deserve this,” said Mariana’s sister, Zebib Christian. “She was a light, warm, selfless, and open-hearted person.”
On Tuesday, Mariana’s family received the heartbreaking news from the police.
“(She was) the kind of person who gave without hesitation, whether it was the shirt off her back, a place to rest, a ride across town, or simply her presence.”
Her brother, Samuel, said the same.
“Yesterday morning, my prayer was, ‘God, I don’t want to leave Kansas without knowing where my sister is,” he said.
Sedgwick County Jail records show police arrested 31-year-old Kyle Bearden on murder charges in connection with Mariana’s death.
“I only wish we told her more often and reminded her in the quiet moments just how deeply she was loved,” said Zebib.
Debbie Matthew met Mariana at Hope Ranch for Women, a Christian program dedicated to helping survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
“I met Mari when I started mentoring with Hope Ranch for Women,“ said Matthew. ”We were matched. Our relationship started as a mentor, but then, over time, she became my bonus daughter.”
Other friends remember Mariana as being passionate and kind to everyone who crossed her path.
“I was talking to my sister last night. I told her, ‘You know what Nikki would do about the suspect in this case? You know what she would do? She’d forgive him,” said Sam, another friend. “That’s the kind of person she was. If she was still alive and she had the chance, she would’ve forgiven him.”
The family tells me they are extremely grateful to the volunteers and the Wichita Police Department, who worked tirelessly to find Mari; adding that although this isn’t the outcome they wanted, Mari never missed a chance to say, “I love you.”
Now, they can have a proper “Goodbye.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family pay for funeral expenses.
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