Sun Nov 24 03:09:07 UTC 2024: ## Teenager Charged with Murder of 13-Year-Old Cheerleader; Trial as Adult Sought
**Powell, TN** – A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Savannah Copeland, a cheerleader found stabbed near a dirt road in Powell, Tennessee. Prosecutors are pushing for the suspect to be tried as an adult.
Copeland was reported missing on October 22nd. Her father, Michael Copeland, used her phone’s location data to find her body around midnight. The suspect, whose name is being withheld pending a January 14th hearing to determine adult prosecution, allegedly attacked Copeland with a pocket knife before fleeing the scene. The exact nature of their relationship remains unclear.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest and charges, while details emerged from a court petition and statements from the victim’s family. Savannah’s vibrant personality and accomplishments in cheerleading, karate, and gymnastics were highlighted by her family in her obituary and interviews. Her father expressed heartbreak, suggesting a lack of compassion and empathy motivated the attack.
The suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident. The upcoming hearing will determine whether he will face trial in adult court.
First Piper 