Tennessee officials are looking into the tragic death of a 13-year-old cheerleader discovered on a dirt road in October.
On October 22, Savannah Copeland was discovered dead on a dirt walking trail in Knox County, Tennessee, according to a statement from the local sheriff’s office. While she wasn’t mentioned in the official statement, her identity was revealed through a GoFundMe organized by her family, her school’s cheerleading team, an online obituary, and various media outlets that communicated with her family.
A 15-year-old named Malakiah Lamar Harris has been taken into custody regarding her death, facing charges of second-degree murder, according to the statement.
This week, Harris was present in court as prosecutors revealed their intention to pursue adult charges against him, according to reports from 6 News and 10 News. A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 14, according to 6 News.
Michael Copeland, the father of the victim, shared with 8 WVLT that Savannah had been unaccounted for for several hours prior to the discovery of her body. He expressed his worries after she allegedly vanished from her home overnight and failed to reach out to him, he stated.
He subsequently located her by analyzing cell phone data and discovered her remains in the forest, according to the report.
A recent petition from a Knox County court, dated Oct. 24, claims that Harris encountered Savannah around midnight on Oct. 22, during which he allegedly stabbed her multiple times with a pocketknife, according to reports from 6 News and 10 News. He reportedly departed the location without informing anyone, according to the petition.
The connection between the two remains uncertain at this time.