Inset: Katheryn Bigbee (Piedmont Elementary School). Background: Piedmont Elementary School, where Bigbee was a student (Google Maps).
In a tragic turn of events, a 10-year-old girl from Alabama, who had been reported missing, was discovered deceased in her own home last week. This heartbreaking incident is believed to involve another child.
Authorities have confirmed that a “juvenile” has been detained, facing a murder charge related to the death of the young girl, identified as Katheryn Bigbee.
The Piedmont Police Department detailed in a news release that officers swiftly responded to a call on Friday night at 10:51 p.m. about a missing child. Upon their arrival at the specified location, they found the lifeless body of the young girl inside the residence.
The Calhoun County Coroner’s Office officially identified the victim as Katheryn Bigbee. Meanwhile, another juvenile has been apprehended and charged with murder, though specifics about the suspect remain undisclosed due to the ages of those involved and the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Chief Nathan Johnson of the Piedmont Police expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved and for our entire community.” He urged people to keep the affected family in their thoughts and prayers during this immensely challenging time.
“This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved and for our entire community,” Piedmont Police Chief Nathan Johnson said in a statement. “We ask that you keep the family affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
Johnson’s heartbreak was echoed by administrators at Piedmont Elementary School, which mourned “the loss of one of our precious students” 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 post states. “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. She will always be a part of our school family, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her classmates, teachers, and all who knew and loved her.”
Blake Trammel, a relative of the victim, said the family had been “torn to pieces” in the wake of Katheryn’s death, according to a report from the New York Post.
“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 reportedly wrote.
