Updated at: 09/10/2009 2:25 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Matthews
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14-Month-Old's Funeral in the Same Church Where She Was Killed

Claude and Sherry Hankins held each other this morning as they mourned the death of their daughter Aundrea Brownlow. 

Family and friends gathered at the little girl's funeral on Wednesday at Thy Kingdom Come World Ministry in Wheaton, Minn; the very same church where the Aundrea was killed last week.

Aundrea died last Thursday after a fatal blow to the head with a baseball bat, which happened during a fight between the girl's father Claude Hankins and David Collins over a washer and dryer.  Collins started swinging a bat in the air, according to a complaint, and hit Aundrea in the head.

Even though the story is a tragic one, the church congregation hopes some good will come from it.

"For Aundrea's sake we're going to make a difference," said the pastor performing the funeral.

The pastor went on to speak of how the church will overcome this tragedy, and the family started by holding the funeral in the very place Aundrea was killed.  Sherry Hankins says the congregation has been supportive.

"It's comforting to know that, and I hope that comforts the rest of you," said Sherry, crying.

David Collins is in the Traverse County Jail charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the death of Aundrea Brownlow, two counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree assault.  Darryl Kennedy, who arrived at the church with a two-by-four, is also in the county jail charged with one count of second-degree assault. 

 

Written for the web by Megan Matthews

megan@ksax.com