DNA links man to slayings

DETROIT -- "I don't want to have to look at this stuff, I don't want to have to think about burying my little sister, but that's where we are," David Hosler said Monday, holding back tears as he stood next to a shrine of toys piled in honor of Raven Jeffries on a weedy, dusty field a few doors from her home.

Hours earlier, Hosler, 19, and his mother, Brenda Jeffries, 41, were notified that their 10-day vigil of hope was over. DNA tests confirmed that a badly burned body found Aug. 7 in a field in Romulus was that of 7-year-old Raven.

"Raven was so happy in school. She was so happy to get to the second grade and to have her cut off like this ," he said, not finishing his thoughts.

With groups of neighbors and friends consoling her as she walked up and down the street where parked cars displayed posters with her daughter's picture, Brenda Jeffries stoically chain-smoked cigarettes and stared at the pile of toys under a plastic sheet encircled by religious candles.

"We feel like we've been in a tornado," Hosler said. "The first few days, we were in the eye of the storm, now we are in the aftermath."

Hosler said the family has no money to bury Raven after spending $900 for the missing-person posters.

"We have had such support from friends and strangers but now we just don't know what to do," he said.

Romulus Detective Lt. John Leacher said police are pursuing several leads. Although he would not comment, sources told The Detroit News that Raven was neither shot nor stabbed.

"We need to keep it kind of close to the belt right now," Leacher said. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said authorities are considering multiple suspects.

Raven disappeared between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 after her mother said she left her house on McDonald Street to pick up items for a barbecue.

Hosler said his sister asked to play by his house several doors down. He told her no before going to take a shower, he said Monday. He never saw her again.

Anyone with information about the case can call Romulus police at (734) 942-6879.