The family of 26-year-old homicide victim Bonnie Royer plans to hold a vigil for her and her boyfriend, 35-year-old Eric Williams, on Friday evening.

WCSH-TV reported that the vigil will take place at the couple’s home on Easy Street in Augusta from 7-9 p.m. Royer is survived by her 6-year-old daughter, McKenzie, who is currently living with her biological father in Cumberland County.

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Bonnie Royer of Augusta is pictured in happier days with her daughter McKenzie, now 6. Royer and her boyfriend, Eric Williams, were found slain in Williams’ SUV on early Dec. 25. Police have classified it as a double homicide. A family friend has set up a gofundme site to help raise money for Royer’s funeral. Photo courtesy of Royer family

“We are beside ourselves during this difficult time,” Royer’s family said in a statement issued on Monday. “You can never prepare for the death of your child. Bonnie is an amazing soul with such a big heart.”

Meanwhile, Maine State Police are continuing their investigation into the gunshot slayings of Royer and Williams whose bodies were found early Christmas morning in a vehicle parked just over the city line in Manchester. Autopsies showed that both victims died of gunshot wounds. No one has been arrested as of Monday.

Their bodies were discovered in Williams’ sport utility vehicle off Sanford Road in Manchester after police responded to a 911 call from one of the victims around 3:30 a.m. Friday, according to State Police spokesman Steve McCausland.

McCausland said detectives have interviewed friends and family as police try to retrace the steps the couple made Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

State police are still receiving tips, and evidence gathered from the crime scene is being analyzed at the state police crime lab in Augusta.

“We are making progress and have learned a lot more than we knew when we first got this case,” McCausland said.

Because the investigation is ongoing, McCausland declined to get into specifics such as possible motive and how many wounds each victim suffered.

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