Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee, a 10-year-old student at Piedmont Elementary School, was found dead from multiple stab wounds on April 17, 2026, after her parents discovered her missing from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Another juvenile has been arrested and charged with murder in the case that has devastated the small Alabama community.
The tragedy unfolded when Katheryn’s parents were awakened by strange noises in their Asberry Church area home. “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 call,” Piedmont Police Chief Nathan Johnson said.
Piedmont Police Department officers responded to the missing child report just before 11 p.m. on April 17, 2026. The search ended quickly when officers discovered Katheryn gravely wounded inside a residence. Emergency responders treated her at the scene before transporting her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown ruled the manner of death a homicide and confirmed Katheryn died from multiple stab wounds. The cause of death was officially released on April 21.
A juvenile suspect was taken into custody at the scene and charged with murder. Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s name, age or gender due to juvenile privacy laws. Chief Johnson confirmed the two knew each other, though he declined to elaborate on their relationship. “I can’t really speak on that, but they did know each other,” he said.
The investigation remains active, and authorities confirmed the incident was isolated and not a random act. Chief Johnson said no further details will be released at this time as the case continues to develop.
Blake Trammell, who is in a relationship with Katheryn’s mother, shared the family’s anguish in a public Facebook post. “Our family has been torn to pieces, and we have lost the most amazing, sweetest little girl. She was a light in any room she walked into,” Trammell wrote. “I cannot express the pain, guilt, and emptiness that has come from all of this. We don’t have answers, only more questions.”
Staff at Piedmont Elementary School remembered Katheryn as having “a joyful, spunky personality” and being “an enthusiastic reader.” The loss has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, where residents are struggling to comprehend the horrific tragedy.
Adrian Fitten, a local Piedmont resident, expressed the sentiment felt by many in the community. “I couldn’t imagine coming home to some news like that, you know it would just break my heart, and I feel for the family that’s going through what they’re going through right now, and we’re praying for them,” Fitten said.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family during this unimaginably difficult time, drawing support from community members and strangers alike. Nearly $23,000 has been raised as of April 24. Local pastors and community leaders have organized prayer gatherings, while grief counselors have been made available to students and staff at Piedmont Elementary.
Piedmont, a small city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties with a population of roughly 4,700 residents, is not accustomed to such violent incidents.
Under Alabama law, juveniles charged with serious offenses can be tried in adult court depending on their age and the nature of the crime, though prosecutors must navigate a legal framework designed to balance public safety with rehabilitation considerations.
Funeral arrangements are set for Monday, April 27, at Thompson Funeral Home. The Calhoun County community now faces the difficult process of grieving and healing while awaiting answers about what exactly happened April 17.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the community continues to mourn a young life full of promise that ended far too soon. The case remains under active investigation, with authorities working diligently to ensure justice is served for Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee.
