PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― A Philadelphia family honored the memory of a little girl in hopes it will help bring her killer to justice. Her family mourned her loss as they continue to search for answers for why her life was cut short.

A vigil was held in Hunting Park Tuesday evening to remember the life of Iriana Morales DeJesus, who was murdered eight years ago.

In the summer of 2000, the five-year-old was riding her bike with friends, when she suddenly vanished. Days later, she was found dead inside an apartment just blocks from her Hunting Park home. She had been raped and strangled.

The suspected killer, Alexis Flores, was arrested in Arizona on a forgery charge and was deported to Honduras in 2005.

Police said Flores was deported before authorities linked his DNA to the crime scene.

"This man has been a fugitive for eight years, it's an extremely brutal crime involving a five-year-old, it involves a brutal sexual assault and obviously the homicide," Lt. Phil Riehl said.

Flores is one of the FBI's ten most wanted fugitives and last spring, Philadelphia police issued an arrest warrant charging Flores with the murder of Iriana.

Iriana'a mother hopes Flores is brought to justice, but she is only left with memories of her young daughter.

"I look at a lot of 11, 12 year-olds and I sometimes wonder how she's look or what would she do," Lizasuain DeJesus said.

The popular television show "America's Most Wanted" sponsored Tuesday's vigil. The show has been closely following the progress of the unsolved case and the whereabouts of Flores.

Lizasuain said she is confident her daughter's alleged killer will be found and brought to justice.

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