Vigil honors Morgan Bauer, whose remains were found 7 years after disappearing

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A candlelight vigil was held Sunday evening to honor the life of Morgan Bauer, who went missing in 2016 at the age of 19.

The service was held at the Yellow River Park in Porterdale, where Bauer’s remains were found.

RELATED: 2 arrested in connection to disappearance of 19-year-old Morgan Bauer

Her mother, Sherri Keenan, along with other loved ones and members of the Porterdale Police Department, all lit candles in her memory.

“In the glow of these candles, I see reflections of the light that my daughter brought into our lives,” Keenan said. “She was a glowing beacon of joy, laughter, and unconditional love. Tonight, as we hold these candles, let them represent the warmth of her spirit that continues to shine brightly in our hearts.”

The group took a moment of silence.

“I truly don’t know how to process that Morgan is not here or how to picture life without her. Even though it has been eight years since she’s been gone, for me, it feels like yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time,” Keenan continued.

“My daughters light may no longer be a visible flame, but that light lives on in the hearts of those who loved her. Tonight, let us honor Morgan’s memory by committing to live our lives with the same kindness, compassion, and fun she shared so freely.”

Bauer vanished in February of 2016, only two weeks after moving to Georgia from South Dakota.

Seven years later, in July of 2023, a massive search took place at a home on Broad Street in Porterdale, which is in Newton County, about 36 miles east of Atlanta.

Investigators said they found “items of evidentiary interest” during that search.

The FBI Atlanta later confirmed those to be Bauer’s remains.

A few weeks later, Jonathan Alexander Warren was arrested in Los Angeles, CA, and Katelyn Goble was arrested in Peoria, IL.

In October, the two were indicted in connection to Bauer’s death. It is unclear what relationship they had to Bauer.

Indictment documents reveal Bauer’s cause of death was strangulation and that her body had been burned.

In January 2024, Warren was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, after pleading guilty to malice murder, necrophilia, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.

Goble was indicted on the charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, as well as concealing a death.

According to the Newton County District Attorney, she will be in court in April.

RELATED:

Man sentenced to life in prison in death of 19-year-old missing since 2016

Suspects in Morgan Bauer’s disappearance held without bond in Newton County

‘I never got that ‘later:’’ Friend remembers Morgan Bauer during renewed search