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Community To Remember Murdered NJ Toddler In Special Way On Friday

CAMDEN, NJ (CBS/AP) -- Ariana Smyth's family is asking the public to help honor the baby girl's memory on what would have been her 2nd birthday.

Ariana died on July 5. She was allegedly raped and killed by her mother's boyfriend, 22-year-old Michael Disporto Jr. of Manahawkin.

Investigators said the girl's mom, 26-year-old Amber Bobo noticed bruises on the girl's forehead at her Gloucester home on July 3 and suggested taking her to the hospital, but waited seven hours because Disporto waved her off, investigators said in a probable cause statement.

In the meantime, the three went to a nearby mall, where the girl began vomiting. They took the girl back to Bobo's home, where she vomited again before the three returned to the mall, investigators said.

They shopped until around 3:30 p.m., then returned home again.

After the girl vomited for a third time and her eyes rolled back into her head later that afternoon, Bobo told Disporto that she wanted to take her daughter to the hospital, investigators said. But Disporto said the girl was "just tired" and told Bobo he would never see her again if she took the girl in, investigators said.

She finally called 911 at 6 p.m. and the girl was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where she required brain surgery. She also had a fractured arm, pulmonary contusions and genital injuries.

She died two days later.

Disporto said the toddler received the injuries by falling in the park the night before, investigators said.

Investigators say the couple had been dating for just two weeks.

A big Frozen themed party had been planned to celebrate Ariana's birthday on Friday before her untimely death. Her family is now asking people to help remember the young girl by wearing a blue colored shirt or a shirt from the Frozen movie and posting a picture on the Wear Blue for Ariana event page.

There will also be a "Letting It Go For Ariana" lantern and balloon release at 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Barnegat Docks.

"I want everyone to know that our precious angel Ariana was the happiest baby on the planet," said Teri Hall, a close friend of Ariana's maternal grandmother. "[Ariana] was full of smiles, no matter what that beautiful baby was always smiling. She touched everyone around her and everyone loved to watch her smile."

Disporto was charged with the girl's death as well as first-degree aggravated sexual assault. He was arraigned Friday afternoon and is being held on $1.5 million bail.

Bobo was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities continue to investigate the crime. Anyone with information is asked to email ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.

GoFundMe campaign was set up in Ariana's name to help pay for her funeral.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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