A juvenile in Alabama has reportedly been arrested for murder following the death of 10-year-old Katheryn Bigbee.
Police said that Bigbee was found dead in her family’s home on Friday, April 17, according to AL.com, WBRC and WVTM.
“The parents heard something, and they couldn’t find one of the children inside the home,” Piedmont police Chief Nathan Johnson said, according to WVTM. “And so they went outside to look. And that’s how it came in as a missing person. They ended up finding a female with extensive injuries, appeared to be deceased.”
The Calhoun County Coroner ultimately ruled that Bigbee had been stabbed to death, according to the outlets.
A juvenile has since been taken into custody and was charged with murder in connection with Bigbee’s death, according to AL.com. However, the suspect has not been named by authorities and it is not clear how the alleged suspect knew the victim.
Following Bigbee’s death, Piedmont Elementary School – where she was a student – paid tribute to her in a Facebook post.
“Our entire Piedmont Elementary School family is grieving as we remember a sweet little girl who brought smiles, kindness, and a bright light to our halls each day,” the school said in the statement shared on Sunday, April 19. “Katheryn had a joyful, spunky personality that made her truly special. She was an enthusiastic reader and will be remembered for the happiness she shared so freely.”
Dustin Trammell created a GoFundMe account on behalf of Bigbee’s family to help them financially amid the tragedy. The fundraiser has raised more than $16,000 of its $22,000 goal as of time of publication.
The community has been left in shock over Bigbee’s killing, with local resident Adrian Fitten telling KTIV, “I couldn’t imagine coming home to some news like that, you know it would just break my heart/ And I feel for the family that’s going through what they’re going through right now, and we’re praying for them.”
Meanwhile, Bigbee’s family member Blake Trammel wrote via Facebook, “Our family has been torn to pieces, and we have lost the most amazing, sweetest little girl.”
“She was a light in any room she walked into. I cannot express the pain, guilt, and emptiness that has come from all of this. We don’t have answers, only more questions,” he continued in the post, according to The New York Post.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
