By Gia Vang and Dan Corcoran

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Family and friends gathered on Wednesday to remember a young girl allegedly murdered by her mother and step-father last week.

Family and friends couldn't hold back tears while remembering 15-year-old Janette Maples, a girl they say was a beam of sunshine. Those who attended Wednesday's memorial learned more about her and also got to hear many of her poems.

Here's one read at the memorial:

Love is the thing you get when it's true.

Love is the thing that can be as true as deep blue.

Love is the thing that can make you mad.

Love is the thing that when broken, can be sad.

Holly Sams said her daughter was Janette's best friend at Cascade Middle School.

"She was probably the sweetest kid I ever met. She was very quiet and she was always smiling."

Officers arrested Maples' mother and step-father, 41-year-old Angela McAnulty and 40-year-old Richard McAnulty, early Thursday morning. The two are accused of aggravated murder, intentionally maiming and torturing Janette at their Eugene home on Howard Avenue.

But close friends said even though Janette may have had problems at home, she always found time to care for others.

"She found me in the bathroom once and she comforted me and was nice to me," Rachel Stambaugh said.

The Lane County Sheriff's office has performed an autopsy on Maples' body, but is not releasing the results until a toxicology exam is completed. They want to know if any chemicals contributed to her death.

The McAnultys were arraigned on Wednesday afternoon. Both pleaded "not guilty" to their charges.