A teenage boy and two teenage girls died from gunshot wounds in Marion County, Florida, in incidents that may be connected, Fox 35 reported Tuesday.
According to officials, two of the victims were found within a half-mile of each other in Ocklawaha while the third was located 10 miles away.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is asking citizens to help his team nab the killer.
“I know this is a rural, tight-knit community and many of you are very concerned. Someone out there knows something,” he said in a video posted to social media on Monday:
SHERIFF WOODS ADDRESSES FOREST LAKES PARK HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONLast Thursday night, my office responded to the area of Forest Lakes Park on SE 183rd Avenue Road. When they arrived, they located a female lying beside the road suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition and later identified as 16-year-old Layla Silvernail.The following morning, deputies responded to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court in reference to a 17-year-old male lying beside the road, and he was found to be deceased from a gunshot wound. On Saturday, more of my deputies responded to the area of Malauka Loop and Malauka Loop Trace in reference to information that Layla’s vehicle was partially submerged at the edge of a nearby body of water. Members of the MCSO Major Crimes Unit, Forensic Unit, and Underwater Recovery Team responded to collect evidence and recover the vehicle. After obtaining a search warrant for Layla’s vehicle, a search of her vehicle was conducted and a third victim was located. The 16-year-old female had also sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead.My Major Crimes detectives are working around the clock continuing their homicide investigation and diligently following up on every potential lead. We are devastated for the families of these three teens, and we are dedicated to bringing whoever is responsible for these heinous acts to justice. I know this is a rural, tight-knit community and many of you are very concerned. Someone out there knows something. Word travels fast but we want you to have accurate information and not rumors. Limited information is available right now because this case is active. But, if you have any information that may aid us in bringing closure to this case, please call Detective Ryan Stith at (352) 368-3542. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352)368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-22 in your tip.
Posted by Marion County Sheriff's Office on Monday, April 3, 2023
He also asked anyone with more information pertaining to the case to “please call Detective Ryan Stith at (352) 368-3542. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352)368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-22 in your tip.”
Authorities found 16-year-old Layla Silvernail on Thursday lying on the side of a road near Forest Lakes Park. The young woman had been shot and officials transported her to the hospital in critical condition.
However, she eventually died at the facility.
The next day, Marion County deputies were called to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court. When they arrived at the scene, they found a 17-year-old boy with gunshot wounds.
He was also lying on the side of the road; officials later pronounced him dead. His family members asked officials to withhold his name from the public.
When deputies were called Saturday to the Malauka Loop and Malauka Loop Trace area, they found a vehicle partially submerged in a body of water.
While assessing the scene, deputies found a 16-year-old girl inside the vehicle who had been shot and killed. Her family also asked that her name not be released.
According to the sheriff’s office, the vehicle in question belonged to Silvernail.
“My Major Crimes detectives are working around the clock continuing their homicide investigation and diligently following up on every potential lead. We are devastated for the families of these three teens, and we are dedicated to bringing whoever is responsible for these heinous acts to justice,” Woods explained in his post.
So far, no individuals have been detained or arrested in the case and Woods wanted the community to know there was no serial killer, stating, “That is far from the truth.”
Neighbor Sara Berghuis told WCJB she is not allowing her children to go anywhere alone for the time being:
A GoFundMe page created to cover funeral and memorial costs for Silvernail said her family chose to donate her organs in an effort help others.
“She has been taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed,” the site read.
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