A Tennessee community is mourning Savannah Copeland, a 13-year-old girl discovered dead in the woods. The teen vanished overnight in October. Hours after she allegedly went missing, her father tracked her down, leading authorities to her body.
As the investigation progressed, police identified the suspect. The alleged perpetrator, a teenager, has been identified. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
On October 22, 2024, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a body discovered on a dirt road, according to a Facebook post from the time.
When authorities arrived, they confirmed that there was a dead body. “Detectives from Major Crimes and Juvenile Crimes and the Knox County Medical Examiner arrived and began collecting evidence and processing the scene,” the note reads.
The girl was not named in the initial statement but was later identified as Savannah Copeland.
Her father was able to help the investigation.
Savannah’s father, Michael Copeland, told 8 WVLT that he knew something was wrong when he hadn’t heard from his daughter in hours after she went missing overnight.
He was able to track her location using his phone, allowing authorities to make the discovery.
“I think it was a lack of compassion and a lack of empathy that drove the hand that took my daughter’s life,” he told me.
Police were able to find the suspected killer.
On the evening the girl was discovered, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office announced that a 15-year-old boy from Powell had been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Two days later, 6 News reported that Judge Timothy E. Irwin decided to release the suspect’s name: Malakiah Lamar Harris.
According to a court petition shared with 6 News, Harris is accused of stabbing the girl multiple times with a pocketknife. He met her around midnight and fled after allegedly murdering her.
Prosecutors want to try the teen as an adult.
Earlier this month, Knox County Assistant District Attorney General Tammy Hicks informed the judge that she would be filing paperwork to have Harris tried as an adult, according to 10 News.
According to the news report, Hicks has already started the process. Michael Copeland told the news outlet that he wants Harris tried as an adult. The move is due to the nature of Harris’ crime.
There are still several factors for the judge to consider before making a decision. The teen’s mental health will be considered, as will his living situation.
According to 10 News, Irwin must also decide whether the teen poses a threat even if he is not in jail. Harris is due back in court on January 14.
Savannah is being remembered for her ‘spunky’ attitude.
Since Savannah Copeland’s death, the community has come together to support her family. The girl was a cheerleader for Powell MAC Cheerleading, which posted on October 27 asking the community to wear blue in her honor.
Michael Copeland told 8 WVLT that the team was establishing an award to be given at the end of the year to a student who embodies his daughter’s best characteristics.
Savannah’s family wrote in her online obituary: “Her beautiful smile lit up the room.” The girl wished to attend college at UT and study forensic anthropology. “She enjoyed scary stories, drawing, and pop music,” the obituary stated.
The family established a GoFundMe account to help cover expenses while her relatives grieve. It has raised more than $50,000 so far.
