The mother of Katie Rough has paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter.
In her first public response to the tragedy, Alison Rough described Katie as “my beautiful beautiful sassy, kind, amazing girl”.
Katie was discovered with serious injuries in a field behind Alness Drive in Woodthorpe on January 9, and died in York Hospital.
A girl, aged 15, has been charged with her murder and remanded in secure youth accommodation.
Alison wrote on her Facebook page:
I love her more than any words could even come close to explaining. Life will never ever be the same again.
My children, my grandson and my husband are my whole entire life, I live only for them. #teamrough xxxxx
Matching tattoos
Alison also updated her Facebook profile to show matching ‘Katie’ tattoos on the wrists of two people, one including a quote from Dr Seuss:
Today you are Youthat is truer than true.
There is no one alive
who is Youer than You.
Friends, family and well wishers from around the world added their condolences to the Facebook post.
“So very very sorry for your loss,” wrote Lucy Jayne from Cheshire.
“No words will heel any of the pain but please know that all of the country if it the whole nation are thinking about you and your family at this incredibly sad time.”
Dorothy Edwards posted: “I am a lady in Canada that is sending prayers and hugs to you all from across the ocean in Ontario. xxx”
And Lianne Heyward wrote: “From one mother to another… I can’t imagine the pain for a second but sending love and hugs from Cornwall.
Alison’s tribute comes two days after she and Paul joined other members of the family and wider Woodthorpe community to release balloons to mark what would have been Katie’s eighth birthday.