New Kensington residents from East Ken Manor and beyond gathered in front of 9-year-old Azuree Charles’ home to remember him Thursday, a day after his parents were charged in connection with his death in May.

Some, including children, held signs saying “Justice has been served,” “Fly high,” and “I miss you Azuree” in front of where Azuree lived on Haser Drive.

Azuree was first reported missing and then was found dead in a wooded area near his home May 4.

New Kensington police and Westmoreland County detectives allege that Azuree’s father, Jean Charles, 40, strangled the boy to death and then tried to hide his body. He faces charges including first-degree murder, criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, concealing the death of a child and tampering with evidence.

Authorities allege his mother, Luella Elien, 29, allowed Charles to be around Azuree and their three daughters alone although she knew he was not to have unsupervised contact with his children. They further allege that she did not report where Charles was to police when she knew he was wanted on charges of assaulting Azuree in November.

Elien is charged as an accomplice to aggravated assault and with child endangerment and hindering the apprehension or prosecution of another person.

Both are being held in the Westmoreland County jail, Charles without bail and Elien on $50,000.

They are both scheduled for preliminary hearings Oct. 12 before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.

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