Fundraising for slain mother nearing $15,000 goal

A GoFundMe account set up to collect money to bury the mother of a kidnapped Wichita infant was less than a thousand dollars from meeting its $15,000 goal by midafternoon Thursday.

Laura Abarca-Nogueda, 27, was shot to death in her home, and a woman whom police say spent months faking a pregnancy is suspected of stealing Abarca-Nogueda’s newborn daughter, Sofia Gonzales, on Nov. 17. Sofia was later found safe at a residence in Dallas.

Abarca-Nogueda’s funeral is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Venue, 3201 S. Hillside, according to an online obituary. A viewing will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at 615 W. Maple.

Any money collected through the GoFundMe account that is left over after paying for burial expenses will go to help raise Sofia, her family has said.

Several other local fundraising efforts also are underway to collect items for the baby. She will be 2 weeks old on Friday.

“I just want to thank everybody for all the support and help,” Sofia’s uncle, Jose Abarca, said in a live Facebook video Wednesday morning. The footage showed piles of clothing and other baby items waiting to be sorted through.

“This is my house. It’s pretty much full of stuff for Sofia,” he said. “And it’s really amazing what you guys did for her.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Fundraising for slain mother nearing $15,000 goal."