A search for a missing child in Calhoun County ended in homicide. On Friday night, April 17, authorities found 10‑year‑old Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee dead inside a residence in the Asberry Church area of Piedmont, Alabama. The call had initially come in as a report of a lost girl. It became something else entirely.
Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home after relatives said Katheryn could not be located. Officers searched the property and discovered the child inside, badly injured. Emergency crews tried to save her. It was not enough. She was pronounced dead shortly after. The county coroner later confirmed multiple stab wounds and ruled the case a homicide.
Within hours, investigators had a suspect in custody. That suspect is a juvenile. Under Alabama law, the child’s name and exact age cannot be released. Authorities said the suspect and Katheryn knew each other. They have not said how or what led to the attack. The juvenile now faces murder charges. More charges may follow.
Detectives spent hours at the scene. They collected forensic evidence. They interviewed people connected to the household. What remains unclear is the timeline: when Katheryn disappeared, how long she was missing, and when the 911 call finally came in. The sheriff’s office says the investigation is active and more details will be released later.
The loss has hit Piedmont hard. Katheryn was known in her school as a bright, energetic, and kind child. The school district has brought in crisis counselors for students and staff. Outside the family’s home, neighbors have started leaving flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes. The small gestures are a way of saying that a 10‑year‑old should not be remembered this way.
Authorities have asked the public to step back and let the family mourn. They have also asked anyone with information to call in. Even small details, they say, could help explain what happened. For now, Piedmont waits. A child is dead. A minor is in custody. And a rural community is trying to understand the incomprehensible.