Katherine Sherrill couldn't stop smiling when she talked about her cousin, Karen Lofton.

"Her smile — she was remarkable, phenomenal, caring, dedicated. There are so many words to describe her, I can't pick one," said Sherrill, 24, of Forestville.

Sherrill was one of nearly 75 people who gathered March 26 outside the Largo home of Karen and Karissa Lofton for a vigil honoring the mother and daughter who were found dead in January. Two candles illuminated the home's front steps and a pastel flower arrangement on the damp and foggy evening.

The vigil was held two months to the day after the Loftons were killed. Police are continuing to investigate the deaths, as well as the strikingly similar homicide of a Largo mother and daughter, Delores Renee Dewitt, 42, and Ebony Dewitt, 19, who were found dead March 16.

"It's unbelievable," said Karen Lofton's niece, Tonya Douglass, 39. "We haven't had any closure yet."

Karen Lofton, 45, and Karissa Lofton, 16, were found dead around 2:50 a.m. Jan. 26 inside their home in the 10800 block of Southall Drive after Karissa Lofton called 911 and said she and her mother had been shot. Karissa Lofton gave dispatchers her address but had died by the time responders arrived five minutes later.

One of Karen Lofton's two surviving sons, Kion Lofton, 22, of Hyattsville, wore a T-shirt, made by his brother, Kirkland Jr., 23, that was decorated with photos of his mother and sister.

"The vigil lets people know they meant something," Kion Lofton said.

The Rev. Charles Alston of Oxon Hill spoke at the vigil, telling mourning family and friends that "Karen and Karissa are with God now — our prayers are with them and those they left behind."

To honor the mother and daughter, friends and family briefly discussed planting a tree in a park at the end of Southall Drive, in addition to starting a scholarship fund.

Theresa Patty, 46, of Washington, D.C., said she and Karen Lofton had been best friends since the seventh grade.

"Karen had a tough life — she made it by herself. She's a fine example of determination," Patty said. "I told her I loved her but she always loved me more. I miss the physical Karen. I can't explain her to you."

Karen Lofton had just started working as school nurse at Lake Arbor Elementary School in Mitchellville, and Karissa Lofton was a junior at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro.

The case has striking parallels to the deaths of Delores Renee Dewitt, 42, who worked as a nurse in Clinton, and Ebony Dewitt, 19, a Largo High school graduate, of the 9700 block of Cedarhollow Lane in Largo.

Police found the bodies of the Dewitts around 3:48 a.m. March 16 in a stolen 2005 Nissan Maxima that had been burned in a driveway in the 11100 block of Webbwood Court, less than two miles from where the Dewitts lived and from where the Loftons were found dead. Both Karen Lofton and Delores Dewitt were single and worked as nurses.

A $25,000 award is being offered for information leading to arrests in each case.

Anyone with information about the cases may call the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477 or text "PGPD plus your message" to CRIMES (274637) or visit www.pgpolice.org to submit a tip online.

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.