Police forces out in Ocklawaha, Florida, are now on the hunt for a triple murderer in the wake of three teens being found dead by shooting and left in different places.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has been able to rule out the notion that a serial killer is responsible for the deaths and is on the loose, though very few details regarding the murders have been made public other than how the victims died and where they had been discovered.
Late last week, sheriff’s deputies discovered Layla Silvernail, age 16, lying inside of a dumpster at roughly 11 p.m. She was quickly rushed to an area hospital and remained in critical condition until this past Tuesday when it was announced that she had died in the wake of being taken off life support, explained a WCJB report.
“She loved the game of softball, was a great pitcher and could play any position her team needed. She uplifted all of her teammates! She has been taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed,” read a GoFundMe account set up for Silvernail.
As of Friday morning at roughly eight, police officials were sent out to respond to a call and discovered the body of a 17-year-old boy near the side of the road. After a period of roughly 5 hours, the body of yet another victim — a 16-year-old girl and now the third — was discovered inside a car that was later found to be owned by none other than Silvernail. The car was partly underwater in a lake next to Malauka Loop, as explained in a report from the New York Post.
The names of the remaining two victims have not been made public as of writing.
“My emotions were plain clear as can be that these kids didn’t even get to start their lives and these parents and these families are devastated,” expressed one local resident, Sara Berghuis, to WCJB. “I’m hoping the one girl does make it but I don’t know any details, they’re not releasing anything. My kids were scared more than anything.”
Police officials are calling on assistance from the public with any info in relation to the incidents.
“Now, we are looking for help,” stated Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods this past Monday on social media. “We are looking for help for the families who have lost a loved one, and there are folks out there that know.”
Woods made sure to downplay any and all concerns regarding a serial killer being on the loose.
