She had already survived more than most people ever should—and she was still dreaming of a better tomorrow.

🌟 A Young Life Searching for Home
At just 16 years old, Zariah Finley Dodd had moved through nearly twenty group homes. Each transition tested her resilience, yet she never stopped hoping for stability, love, and a place to belong. That hope finally began to feel real when she found safety with her kinship caregiver, Richilyn Fox.

🤍 Dreaming for Two
Pregnant and filled with determination, Zariah spoke about a future shaped by care and possibility—for herself and for the child she carried. She imagined a life different from the one she’d known, guided by strength and tenderness she was ready to give.

🌘 A Disappearance, Then Silence
On July 4th, Zariah left her group home and never returned. Hours later, her body was discovered in a park—shot, alone, and left in the dark. The violence ended not only her life, but the future she was bravely trying to build.

💔 Grief Turned to Purpose
For Richilyn Fox, the loss is unbearable—and infuriating. But amid the heartbreak, she has made a promise: Zariah’s story will not end with violence. Her name will stand for protection, not neglect.

🕯️ Zariah’s Light
In Zariah’s honor, Fox is creating Zariah’s Light—a refuge for girls who, like Zariah, need safety, stability, and someone who believes in them. It is a place meant to shine where systems failed, and to hold space for healing, dignity, and hope.

🌼 A Legacy That Endures
Zariah Finley Dodd will be remembered not for how she died, but for how fiercely she hoped—how she kept going, how she dreamed of motherhood, and how her life now fuels change for others.

🕊️ Let Her Light Lead
As calls for justice continue, Zariah’s light lives on—in every effort to protect vulnerable girls, in every promise kept, and in every safe place built because one young life mattered.