A 20-year-old Florida man has been accused of choking his teenage girlfriend to death and leaving her body in the backyard of a home. Authorities have charged him with second-degree murder in connection with the tragic death of the 17-year-old girl.
Police responded to a residence after receiving reports of an unresponsive woman in the backyard. When officers arrived, they met with the suspect’s mother, who directed them to the scene where the young girl’s body lay motionless. Paramedics pronounced her dead upon arrival.
Initially, the suspect told his mother and police that he had been attacked by the girl and an unknown man, leading to a struggle in which he strangled her while defending himself. However, during further questioning, he admitted that no one else had been present and that he alone was responsible for the violent act. After killing her during an argument, he dragged her body outside and left her there.
Authorities arrested him the following day. He is currently being held in jail without the possibility of bond.
The tragic incident has left the victim’s family and friends devastated. In an emotional gathering, loved ones held a candlelight vigil and released balloons in her memory. Her brother expressed deep sorrow and regret, saying he wished he could have done more to protect her. He described her as a beautiful young girl who did not deserve such a fate.
“She didn’t deserve this at all,” he said, reflecting on the heartbreaking loss. “This is just tragic. He shouldn’t have gone that far with domestic violence. It didn’t have to go like that. I’m so sorry for all of this. I don’t even know how to say I’m sorry to myself for letting her down.”
At the vigil, many wore T-shirts bearing her image, a tribute to her memory. However, her grieving aunt voiced her anguish, saying that wearing a shirt with her niece’s face on it was not a source of pride, but rather a painful reminder of a life taken too soon.
“I’m not happy that she’s on my shirt, to be honest,” she said, struggling to hold back tears. “I don’t want her to be on my shirt. I want her to be physically here with me. To me, it’s a shame that I have to put on a shirt to represent her. That is not something that I do with pride. That’s something that I do with humiliation and with my head down.”
As the community mourns, the victim’s family is now faced with the painful task of laying her to rest. To help with funeral expenses, her brother launched an online fundraiser, hoping to honor her memory in a way that reflects the love and light she brought into their lives.
“A beautiful soul was taken away due
