Funeral service for Janiya Thomas to be held Saturday

BRADENTON -- A funeral service for 11-year-old Bradenton Janiya Thomas will be held at noon Saturday.

According to an obituary to be published Thursday in the Bradenton Herald, services will be at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 525 Martin Luther King Ave. E., Bradenton.

The obituary lists Oct. 18 as the day Janiya died. It's the same day her body was found in a padlocked freezer at her great-aunt and great-grandmother's house in the Woods of Hammock Place neighborhood in Bradenton.

Her body was not positively identified until a week later by the Medical Examiner's Office.

Janiya was reported missing two days prior by Manatee County Sheriff's Office child protective investigators after her mother refused to tell them or a judge anything about the girl's whereabouts and well-being. Sheriff's investigators arrived at Thomas' home to remove her five children as part of a child abuse investigation involving Thomas' 12-year-old son, but only four were found.

Beside the brief obituary is a photo of a smiling Janiya in a red-collared shirt. Her hair is sectioned off in braids with red beads and adorned with white ribbons.

According to the obituary, Janiya leaves behind her mother, two sisters, two brothers, "special aunt" Tyshanna Thomas and "best cousin" Tanavia Jackson. Janiya's father died from a medical condition that affected his digestion and bowel moments, which Janiya also had, according to Bradenton police Lt. James Racky.

Thomas is at the Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $200,000. She faces charges of child abuse, aggravated abuse and abuse of Janiya's body.

Westside Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Funeral service for Janiya Thomas to be held Saturday ."