[Amy]

A parent's worst nightmare became a tragic reality for Brian and Amy Doolin when their 7-year-old daughter, Gabriella "Gabby" Doolin, was found dead just minutes after being separated from her parents during a football game in Kentucky on Saturday. And now, authorities have ruled her death a homicide.

The Doolins were at a pee-wee football jamboree in Scottsville, near the Tennessee border, when Gabby went missing at 7:40 p.m., according to the Kentucky State Police. The Doolins immediately asked the game's announcer to call her name and alerted the Scottsville Police Department. When she didn't come forward, game-goers joined police in searching for the girl.

"A lot of people helped looking for her," Kentucky State Police spokesman Barry Eaton told ABC News.

Just 25 minutes after Gabby went missing, a search volunteer spotted her body in a wooded area on the edge of the Allen County Scottsville High School, about 400 yards from the school's football field where she was last seen alive, police said.

"The area was a wooded areas but it wasn't a secluded area," Eaton said, which allowed her body to be found quickly. The Medical Examiner's Office in Louisville ruled on Monday that Gabby death was a homicide, Eaton said, but detectives are not releasing the cause of death or any leads they may have on the investigation.

Gabby had come to the game to cheer for her older brother, Alec. Fighting back tears, the fifth-grader told ABC affiliate WKRN his sister "made everybody feel better."

"She was always so happy about everything. No matter what was going on, she was always happy," he said, his voice breaking. "I miss her."

PHOTO: Gabriella Doolins brother Alec, father Brian and mother Amy, comfort each other during a vigil for her, Nov. 15, 2015, in Scottsville, Ky.

In two separate Facebook posts, Gabby's dad, Brian Doolin, thanked everyone for their support and said he wants justice for his daughter. A GoFundMe Page has received more than $30,000 to offset the costs of Gabby's funeral, and more than 500 people attended a vigil for Gabby on Sunday.

"I'd give anything to hold my baby girl just one more time," Doolin wrote. "I love her with all my heart ... please continue to pray for my family ... I would of gladly traded places with my baby girl."

Allen County Sheriff Jeff Cooke also took to his personal Facebook page to thank the community for rallying around the Doolins. Scottsville, about 65 miles northeast of Nashville in neighboring Tennessee, is a town of just 4,000 people.

No arrests have been made in connection to the case, but Cooke said Gabby's murder is believed to be an isolated incident.

SOURCE

[kellyhound]

Can't lose them out of sight for a second as where kids are predators are often on the lure. Hope they find some leads and catch the bastard(s).

[Oswald2001]

RIP, little sister.

[Morbid75]

I wonder though if this was not another kid. Taking her to the woods to kill her seems too risky for an adult who might just throw her in to a car and kill her later unless he got spooked.

Sad story

[Amy]

Originally Posted by morbid75 ↗

I wonder though if this was not another kid. Taking her to the woods to kill her seems too risky for an adult who might just throw her in to a car and kill her later unless he got spooked.

Sad story

I thought the same. Took her to assault her and panicked when he heard the announcers. You would think an adult would have gotten the hell out of dodge.

[melvilleboi]

I was thinking the same thing as the others. The reason is that we had a 6 year old be lured away by a 10 year old to go play. The 10 year old has serious problems and lost it on the other boy and beat him to death. All happened in a short period, but not as short as this.

Mind you, with the way things have been known to happen, the parents or the brother did it and then claimed a stranger took her.

[CrunchyCripple]

It could have easily been an adult with mental issues, causing them to act in an immature manner.

When we try to profile someone, we usually assume that the person is working with an age appropriate brain.

That is often not the case. Most of the people in prison have mental issues, causing them not to think rationally.

[Pyramid_Head]

Geez, just 25mins for her to be taken and killed. I seriously hope they find who did this soon.

[vagabond]

Yeah- I think it was an older kid- middle or high school. Wouldn't surprise me if she was killed to keep her quiet about some attempted molestation or some such. So very sorry for the family, they appear devastated.

[Azimuth]

Oh my God. Twenty-five minutes.

If they're saying it's an isolated incident, I wonder if they might already have a potential suspect. Maybe someone the girl had trouble in school with or something?