Malakiah Lamar Harris, a 15-year-old boy, has been charged with second-degree murder in the case of a 13-year-old middle school cheerleader found dead on a dirt trail in Tennessee. The girl’s father located her using a tracking application after becoming worried about her unexplained absence.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office reports that Harris is alleged to have stabbed Savannah Grace Copeland multiple times with a pocket knife on October 22, 2024. The fatal incident took place on a trail in the Broadacres subdivision of Powell, Tennessee, close to Knoxville.

According to her father, Michael Copeland, Savannah vanished from their home overnight, leading him to utilize the Life360 tracking application to find her. This aided deputies in locating the girl’s body.

Savannah, a student at Powell Middle School, was known for her academic and athletic achievements, participating in gymnastics, karate, and cheerleading. Her aspirations included studying forensic anthropology at the University of Tennessee. She also had a fondness for drawing, scary stories, and pop music. The Copeland family have been long-standing members of the Powell United Methodist Church.

The Powell Middle School cheerleading team intends to honor Savannah’s memory with an annual award in her name, which will recognize a team member exhibiting the same character traits as her. Savannah’s father described her as having “Spunkiness, eagerness and a go-getter attitude”.

A memorial has been set up at the spot where Savannah’s body was discovered, attracting community members who have left notes, flowers, and other items to pay tribute to her. The Copeland family has expressed hopes of establishing a permanent memorial at the site.

The court hearing for Harris, a known friend of Savannah and her family, took place on November 20 and lasted roughly 10 minutes. Harris showed little emotion as he entered the courtroom and throughout the proceedings.

The prosecution is pushing for Harris to be tried as an adult. A transfer hearing has been scheduled for January 14, 2025, in which Harris’ prior record, the severity of the crime, and the potential effectiveness of any rehabilitation or mental health treatment will be taken into account.