. >> reporter: pastor mike honnicer shared the news with others who gathered. >> just draw all of our strength and attention to praying for this family. >> reporter: instead they were praying for peace. >> i didn't think that would happen to her because she was >> it's really a sickening feeling knowing that she wouldn't be coming back. >> we can't begin to imagine what heaven looks like. we can't begin to imagine right now what nicole is seeing. >> reporter: disbelief spread as quickly as the news. the last pieces of hope fell away. >> to be a mother myself and to know that this could very easily been one of my children, it really hit home. >> we want to pray because that's what we came to do, right? >> reporter: the community staying united saturday night for nicole's family and each other. >> so we pray right now for nicole's entire family that they would feel the warmth of your embrace, the power of your presence, god. >> it's just crazy how someone could do that to her. >> reporter: perhaps the largest question in the crowd was why this had to happen to a >> and god, we trust you