Katheryn Bigbee, 10, was remembered by her school as joyful, kind and full of life.
PIEDMONT, Ala. — A juvenile has been charged with murder after 10-year-old Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee was found fatally injured late Friday inside a home in this east Alabama city, police and the Calhoun County coroner said.
The case has shaken Piedmont, where police have released few details because both the victim and the accused are juveniles. What began as a missing-child call shortly before 11 p.m. April 17 became a homicide investigation after officers found Katheryn inside the home. Coroner Pat Brown later said she died from multiple stab wounds. Police Chief Nathan Johnson said the investigation remains active and that no further details would be released for now.
Johnson said officers were called to a home in the Asberry church area after Katheryn’s parents heard a noise and could not find her in her bedroom. “When the parents were alerted by some noise and they got up to see what the noise was, the child wasn’t in the bedroom, and that’s what led to the missing person’s call,” Johnson said. Officers arrived and found Katheryn inside the residence with severe injuries. First responders treated her at the scene before she was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Funeral records list her date of death as April 18.
Police said another juvenile was taken into custody and charged with murder. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name, age or gender. Johnson said the suspect and Katheryn knew each other, but he did not describe their relationship. He also said police consider the case isolated and not a random act. Investigators have not publicly named a motive, described the events that led to the attack or said whether a weapon was recovered. They also have not said who else was inside the home when officers arrived or whether anyone witnessed the assault.
The silence around the case reflects the limits of a juvenile investigation. In adult cases, charging documents, booking records and early court appearances often provide quick public details. In cases involving children, many records are sealed or closely held. Johnson said investigators were still working the case and that additional charges could come later. “This is an isolated incident involving one juvenile, I can tell you that, and we are continuing the investigation,” he said. No public juvenile court schedule had been announced by Thursday, and police had not identified any broader threat to residents.
Piedmont Elementary School confirmed Katheryn was a student and issued a message of grief to families and staff. School officials called her a “sweet little girl who brought smiles, kindness, and a bright light to our halls each day.” They said she had a joyful, spunky personality and loved reading. Grief counselors were made available to students and employees as classmates returned to school after the killing. “She will always be a part of our school family, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her classmates, teachers, and all who knew and loved her,” the school said.
Funeral notices gave a fuller view of Katheryn’s life beyond the police case. She was born Aug. 6, 2015, in Anniston and spent part of her early childhood in California before returning to Alabama. Her obituary said she loved the beach, animals and cats, and that she could start singing at any time. It described her as smart, kind and full of personality. Her family said she often came home talking about classmates and liked making homemade gifts for others. A funeral service was scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, April 27, at Thompson Funeral Home in Piedmont, with visitation set for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The killing has landed hard in a small community already dealing with recent grief. Johnson said Piedmont residents know one another closely and that a child’s death affects far more than one household. “When it comes to a case like this, it affects the whole community,” he said. “My heart, my prayers go out to the family that’s affected by this.” Piedmont resident Adrian Fitten said the news was painful to hear. “I couldn’t imagine coming home to some news like that,” Fitten said. “It would just break my heart.”
As of Thursday, April 23, the accused juvenile remained charged with murder, the investigation remained open and police had not released a motive or detailed timeline for the events inside the home.
Author note: Last updated April 23, 2026.