KEANSBURG — The father of 11-year-old Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith — the young girl prosecutors say was stabbed to death by a neighbor last month — will not be present for her funeral Monday.

After unsuccessfully pleading his case to return to the United States from Jamaica to attend the service at St. Ann's Church in Keansburg, Kenroy Smith said he doesn't want the last time he sees his daughter to be on a screen, and so he will not participate via Skype.

"I will just keep the memory of the last time I seen (sic) her. I keep that memory," Smith told New Jersey 101.5. "I am so hurt inside."

Murder of Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith
(Keansburg Police)
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Abbie Smith was found dead on July 13 on the rear roof of her Hancock Street apartment building, 12 hours after she was reported missing. Andreas Erazo, 18, who lived upstairs from Abbie, was arrested the next day and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he stabbed Abbie in the neck with a knife. Authorities have not said whether they know of a motive.

Erazo's detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Monmouth County courthouse in Freehold.

On his Facebook page,Kenroy Smith posted videos Foreigner's "I Don't Want To Live Without You," "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister and a version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Elvis Presley, along with prayers.

He wrote a message for friends to read at the funeral.

"Tell her to come home to me and let's go to the beach please tell her to have fun in heaven with the Lord till I see her again at the cross road may God bless your soul Abbie daddy loves you and will always do you are my shining light you are my everything may God bless your soul I can see you in heaven playing with your new Angel's friends may God keep you safe till we meet again in Jesus name Amen one love my child rest your soul in peace to God be the glory," he wrote.

Smith's application for a visa was turned down on Friday by the United States Embassy. A rejection form letter posted by Kenroy Smith to his Facebook page says he was turned down for three reasons — two of which are checked off from a list: A “conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude” and a “conviction for a controlled substance related offense.”

Flowers and balloons cover the sign in front of the apartment where Abbie Smith was lived and was killed
Flowers and balloons cover the sign in front of the apartment where Abbie Smith was lived and was killed (Christina Kilpatrick)
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Additionally, a 214(b) denial is handwritten onto the letter. The U.S. State Department website explains that this denial means the consular office believes the applicant did not “sufficiently demonstrate” a qualification for the visa or that the applicant did not “overcome the presumption of immigrant intent” by “sufficiently demonstrating that you have strong ties to your home country that will compel you to leave the United States at the end of your temporary stay.”

The letter also says that “no waiver is available for this ineligibility.”

Smith admits to be being deported in 2001 on a "minor drug charge" but said he could not recall the details to New Jersey 101.5. He wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday "my brother and sister I did only got caught with less than a ounce of drugs I got twenty years for that."

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