Consentino cheerleaders grabbed their pom-poms in memory of Precious Wallaces and her family at a recent sporting event. (Courtesy photograph)
Tributes continue to pour in for late Consentino sixth grader Precious Wallaces in the wake of her sudden death on Dec. 17.
Consentino School’s cheerleading Chargers honored the memory of their friend and classmate at a recent performance, carrying a banner that featured her name surrounded by hand-drawn hearts. During the game against J.G. Whittier Middle School, the pom-pom squad also dedicated their routine to her family in their time of grief.
According to Cathie Rivera, one of the 11-year-old’s aunts, the family will host a wake on Saturday at Haverhill’s Paul C. Rogers Funeral Home, but there will be no funeral. As they continue to grieve, family members gathered just prior to Christmas for a “small family vigil,” Rivera said on social media.
As part of the remembrance, family members wrote messages to the late Haverhill girl on white and pink heart and star-shaped balloons. Rivera continues to accept donations through a GoFundMe page set up to defray funeral and burial costs. To date, the account has raised nearly $7,000 of an $8,000 goal.
An investigation into the girl’s death by the Essex County District Attorney’s office continues this week, with a spokeswoman for DA Jonathan W. Blodgett telling WHAV the inquiry looks into “possible exposure to a toxic substance” including fentanyl.
WHAV has received unconfirmed reports Wallaces ingested a substance after school before falling ill. Toxicology reports are still pending, the DA’s office said. A Lawrence District Court judge has ordered documents related to the case sealed, arguing that the release of reports could hinder a grand jury investigation.