The tragic death of Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee, a 10-year-old from Piedmont, Alabama, occurred on the night of Friday, April 17, 2026. The incident began when her parents heard an unusual noise and discovered she was missing from her bedroom, leading to an immediate missing person report. Piedmont police responded to the family home in the Asberry Church area just before 11:00 p.m., where they tragically discovered Katheryn with severe injuries. Despite medical intervention at the scene, she was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities have officially ruled the death a homicide, with the Calhoun County Coroner confirming that Katheryn died from multiple stab wounds. In the wake of the discovery, another juvenile was quickly taken into custody and charged with murder. Due to the ages of both the victim and the suspect, police have not released the identity, age, or specific relationship of the accused juvenile to Katheryn, though they emphasized the incident was isolated and the parties were known to each other.
The Piedmont community has expressed deep grief over the loss of the Piedmont Elementary student, who was described by her teachers as a “bright light” with a joyful and spunky personality. In addition to being an enthusiastic reader who loved animals, Katheryn was a member of the Piedmont P.A.R.D. Cheer Team, whose members will serve as honorary pallbearers at her upcoming service. Her family has expressed profound gratitude for the first responders and the community’s spiritual and financial support through a GoFundMe page.
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Piedmont, with a visitation period starting at 2:00 p.m.. As the investigation remains active and ongoing, the local school district continues to provide grief counselors for students and staff affected by the tragedy.