MALEAH DAVIS: Community pays tribute to missing girl at balloon ceremony while research groups continue their research

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Dozens of fans spent Mother's Day at a gas station across the Southwest Houston apartment complex, where Maleah Davis, age 4, was seen alive for the last time.

The Parents Against Predators group helped organize a balloon release Sunday to raise awareness about the research.

RELATED: New photos show the last time Maleah Davis was seen alive in front of his family's apartment.

A pastor recited a prayer for Maleah, and several mothers in the crowd took turns expressing their grief and concern that Maleah was still missing.

The group then crossed the street to join the apartment complex and headed to the door of the unit where Derion lived Vence.

The authorities claim that Vence is the last person to have seen Maleah and that the bail was fixed late Saturday after his arrest for falsification of evidence in the disappearance.

Vence is the ex-fiancé of Maleah's mother and was filmed by a security camera on April 30 while she was entering this apartment with Maleah. The investigators said that the girl had never been seen leaving with him.

"It just hits home," said supporter Mildred Crump. "I do not see how everyone can enjoy this day."

In Fort Bend County, MPs helped Texas Equusearch look for Maleah and spent Sunday afternoon exploring an area not far from Ridge Point High School, located near Waters Lake Blvd. in Sienna Plantation.

The Houston Unsolved Homicides group has organized its own research in the Alief area. The volunteers used horses and ATVs to sneak into a wooded area.

RELATED: The blood was found in the apartment of the suspect in the disappearance of 4 years, according to the police