A teenager, Malakiah Lamar Harris, 15, has been charged with second-degree murder following the tragic death of 13-year-old Savannah Grace Copeland, a middle school cheerleader. Her body was found on a dirt trail after her father traced her using a tracking application.
According to Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Harris allegedly used a pocket knife to stab Savannah Grace Copeland multiple times in the early morning of October 22, 2024. The crime took place on a trail in the Broadacres subdivision of Powell, Tennessee, close to Knoxville.
When Savannah disappeared from their home overnight, her father, Michael Copeland, grew anxious after failing to reach her for several hours. He used the Life360 tracking application to help deputies locate his daughter’s body.
Savannah was a student at Powell Middle School, where she excelled both academically and in sports including gymnastics, karate, and cheerleading. She dreamed of studying forensic anthropology at the University of Tennessee and had hobbies like drawing, reading scary stories, and listening to pop music. The Copeland family has been long-standing members of the Powell United Methodist Church.
In honor of Savannah, the Powell Middle School cheerleading team has instituted an annual award named after her. This award will recognize a team member who embodies the traits Savannah was known for: “Spunkiness, eagerness and a go-getter attitude,” as described by her father.
A makeshift memorial has been erected at the site where Savannah’s body was discovered. Community members have been leaving messages, flowers, and mementos to remember her. The Copeland family plans to establish a more permanent memorial at the location.
The court hearing for Harris, who was a friend of Savannah and her family, happened on November 20 and lasted for about 10 minutes. Harris showed little emotion during his entrance into the courtroom and throughout the proceedings.
Prosecutors have proposed to try Harris as an adult. A transfer hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2025, where matters like Harris’ previous record, the nature of the crime, and the effectiveness of any past rehabilitation or mental health treatment will be taken into account.