RIDGE MANOR, Fla. – A teenage girl was found dead Thursday morning near Cypress Lake Preserve in Hernando County, and a 16-year-old boy has been arrested, sheriff’s officials said.
The girl’s body was found around 9:35 a.m. by a passerby off Ridge Manor Boulevard in Ridge Manor, about 15 miles south of Sumter County.
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The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the girl was killed with an “edged weapon.”
“I will tell you that, it was, nothing short of very violent,” said Sheriff Al Nienhuis during a news conference Friday afternoon.
Investigators would not release the girl’s name or age, citing Marsy’s Law.
After the girl’s body was found, the sheriff said it was determined that she had left her home in the middle of the night — around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
“We were relatively confident that it was not a random act,” the sheriff said. “And as I said, because she did sneak out in the middle of the night, to meet with some individuals, one or more individuals, we were confident that she likely knew her killer.”
Nienhuis said deputies arrested Cameron Cubel, 16, on Friday. The boy faces a charge of first-degree murder. The sheriff did not say how the boy and the victim knew each other, only that they had history together.
He is currently being charged as a juvenile.
“In talking with the state attorney, I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but in these types of cases, it’s very likely he will be charged as an adult. If they haven’t already done that,” the sheriff said.
The girl’s next of kin has been notified, and the sheriff’s office said it will hold a Friday afternoon news conference to update the case.
Anyone with information about the girl’s death is asked to call the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at 352-754-6830 and ask to speak to Detective J. Mitro. Also, Hernando County Crime Stoppers can be reached by phone at 866-990-TIPS (8477) or by texting **TIPS from a mobile device.