Friends said Esme Kenney had so much talent and a bright future ahead of her, but the gifted teen girl never got to fulfill any of her dreams.
Samuel Spurlock, a 6th grader at the School of Creative and Performing Arts, says Esme was his best friend.
"People are crying saying they don't know what to do. It's hard, we loved her dearly," said Spurlock.
Spurlock wore red and pink Monday and so did many other kids at the school in honor of Esme.
"She's watching over all of our friends," said Spurlock.
The man accused of killing Esme is a convicted sex offender.
The judge set Anthony Kirkland's bond at more than $5 million.
Kirkland was recently wanted in connection with an aggravated burglary where he allegedly stabbed a man with a pair of scissors.
Just this past Thursday, Kirkland allegedly jumped into woman's car and threatened her and three-year-old son with steak knife.
Kirkland was accused of failing to register his address as a sex offender and convicted in 2007 after trying to force a 13-year-old girl to have sex. That same year, he was convicted of holding a grill fork to his 18 month old son's neck.
Cincinnati police said they found Kirkland in the woods on Sunday, the same day they found Esme's body.
The seventh grader's death hit staff and students hard. Principal Dr. Jonathon Futch said the school has counselors on hand to help with the grieving process.
"A lot of prayers over the past few days," said Dr. Futch. "Really no words to describe it you have a life taken before her time."
Samuel Spurlock's mom Jennifer often saw Esme after school. She said the young teen loved school, singing and her friends.
"(Esme was) funny, high spirited, always had a positive attitude and was able to lift up other students who were struggling," said Jennifer Spurlock.
With Help From ONN Affiliate WKRC
