VIDEO: 5-year-old Bella's mother speaks on immeasurable loss

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Crystal Walker is a single mom from Cheektowaga who works about 50 hours a week, and in her home Tuesday afternoon, she told News 4 what she wants everyone to know about her daughter.

Little 5-year-old Bella Tennant was reported missing Monday morning and police, family and friends began a frantic search. Three hours later, police say 18-year-old Tyler Best came forward and led police to Bella's body, which had been stuffed into a garbage can. Police arrested Best and 16-year-old John Freeman, a teen family described as a trusted neighbor who police say murdered Bella with his bare hands and then had Best help him move her lifeless body.

Walker said, "I just want everyone to know what a great girl she was and so full of life."

Two months ago, Bella danced on stage at Chuckie Cheese on her fifth birthday.

Walker recalled, "The other day, she always watched Disney Channel, and she saw the 'Friends For Change' and she said, 'Mom, I want to do that. I want to collect money for kids who don't have anything.' And she said, 'Let's do a lemonade stand and everything I make we'll go take it to the homeless shelter.'"

MORE | To see News 4's full interview with Crystal Walker, watch the video with this story

Bella attended Pre-K classes all of last year at Union East Elementary in Cheektowaga and she was about to start kindergarten.

"She was so excited," Walker said. "We just got all the shopping done; she filled her book bag in her room. Her lunch box is in the fridge. She already packed a lunch and it doesn't even start for two weeks."

Holding Bella's favorite stuffed bunny, her mother described how the girl would spend two nights a week at her great grandmother's house in Niagara Falls when Walker worked late hours.

"And I do blame my grandmother because she...she was responsible at the time. But then again I can't because it wasn't her fault, she trusted this kid," Walker sighed.

The great grandmother went to bed at around 11 p.m. Sunday night, leaving Bella in the care of 16-year-old Freeman, who lived three doors down but came over almost every day.

"I always told my grandmother he was a mooch and to stop letting them come over whenever they want. They would just walk in the house and make a drink," Walker said.

She still has no idea why Freeman would kill the little girl.

"I don't...and when we were looking for her, we went straight to his house because we knew he was there on the computer and he said, 'Oh, I just left and she was coloring' and didn't even ask to help us look for her," said Walker.

"And I don't understand...he could've just left her in the basement and made it look like she fell, but instead he took her little body three streets away and put her in a garbage can...Who does that?"

Walker worked two jobs to raise her daughter in their home in Cheektowaga. Bella's father was still a big part of her life and would take her a few days a week, but now Walker has lost her only child, who's forever tattooed on her arm and her heart.

"I just don't want it to be real. I just want her back. Everyone says 'What can I do, what do you need?' I don't need anything but her back."

Walker wants to thank everyone for their outpouring of support. Friends are holding another vigil for Bella Tuesday night at Cheektowaga High School at 10 p.m.