Mom of Girl Allegedly Slain by Va. Tech Student Describes Daughter's Hopes, Illness
Two Virginia Tech students have been charged in connection to her death.
— -- The mother of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell, who was allegedly murdered by a Virginia Tech student, fought through tears today as she spoke about her beloved daughter.
Nicole "touched many people throughout her short life," her mother Tammy Weeks said at a news conference today.
Weeks became so emotional that she could not finish reading her prepared statement.
Nicole was from Blacksburg, Virginia -- the city where Virginia Tech is located -- and went missing Jan. 27, the Blacksburg Police Department said. Her body was found on Saturday in Surry County, North Carolina, which is near the Virginia border, police said.
Two Virginia Tech students were arrested this weekend in connection with Nicole's death.
Nicole had many health problems in her short life, her mother said today.
As a baby, Nicole was diagnosed with a rare tumor in her liver, her mother said, noting that when Nicole was 10 months old, she received a liver transplant.
At the age of 4, Nicole was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, her mother said. Nicole was in coma for 6 months and developed MRSA, Weeks said.
Nicole had a passion for pandas, music and dancing, and dreamed of being on "American Idol" some day, her mother said.
Once Weeks became too emotional to continue her statement, Youth Pastor Josh Blankenship finished reading her prepared statement on her behalf, saying, "our heart still aches in sadness. ... What it means to lose you ... no one will ever know."
Nicole's funeral service is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, a source close to the family told ABC News.