Christina Morris remembered at Allen memorial

Memorial Held for Christina Morris Saturday in Allen

ALLEN, Texas -- A memorial was held Saturday at First Baptist Church in this Collin County city to remember 23-year-old Christina Morris.

The Fort Worth woman disappeared in 2016. Her remains were discovered in Anna last month.

Best friend Teighlor Stegman wanted to celebrate Morris's life. "Just think about all the things that we got to do together, for 20 years growing up together... that's what I think about," she said.

Many at the memorial service wore the color purple, Morris's favorite. Her mother, Jonni Hare, said she is now at peace.

"It's actually a pretty amazing feeling knowing that your daughter is up there in heaven," Hare said. "She was here every step of the way with us, every step of the way I felt her."

Christina Morris had last been seen in Plano, Texas, with acquaintance Enrique Arochi. A surveillance video showed her walking with him in a parking garage at The Shops at Legacy parking lot.

Arochi was convicted of aggravated kidnapping in 2016. Morris's remains were discovered by a work crew in a field in Anna, Texas, last month.

Stegman said it wasn't the way she had hoped this mystery would end. "But at least we have her home where she belongs, and that's all that matters," she said.

"It's real important not to focus on the anger part of it, and the 'why'...  because there is no 'why,'" Hare added. "Unfortunately, things happen that we cannot explain."

Hare and her entire family thanked everyone for their undying love and support through the years. 

"We wanted to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support, the love, the prayers, and everybody coming out to help celebrate Christina's life today," she said. "I will continue being Christina's voice, I will continue being the strong mother that she knew I was; I've actually become even stronger through this experience."

Suspect Enrique Arochi is currently serving a life sentence and his conviction is on appeal. The police investigation into her death is ongoing.