Sanaa Amenhotep, the 15-year old daughter of a New Jersey anti-violence activist, was found dead on April 29 after being missing for several weeks in South Carolina. According to News 10, officers have arrested three suspects in connection to her death.
The teenage girl was last seen by witnesses leaving her home in Columbia, South Carolina. Still, police believe she was kidnapped by two male acquaintances that she left, along with a teenage girl, with voluntarily. Amenhotep’s mother called local police and reported her missing on April 5.
Weeks later, her body was unfortunately found in a wooded area in Lexington County, located 18 miles west of Columbia. Amenhotep had allegedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and an autopsy report revealed her cause of death to be a homicide.
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Two underaged suspects were taken into police custody Wednesday and charged with kidnapping. Authorities also arrested Treveon Nelson, 18.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told The State about Nelson, “He is part and responsible for the death of this 15-year-old. He is still out in this community, and we’re asking everybody to put just as much effort into finding him as the community put effort into finding our missing 15-year-old.”
The sheriff also believes “gang-related activity” was involved in the case.
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Amenhotep was the daughter of Sharif Malik Amenhotep, an New Jersey advocate who serves as vice-chair of the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition and as a member of the New Black Panther Party.
After finding out the tragic news, he honored his baby girl on his Instagram, sharing a picture of them together.
“The last time I will ever be able to hug my Princess Sanaa Mahari Amenhotep, ase,” the anti-violence activist wrote. “My whole world, my heart, my everything gone from this physical realm onto the Ancestors. I’m destroyed for life.”
Lexington County is currently investigating the homicide instead of her home of Columbia due to Amenhotep’s body being found there, The State reports.
Investigators have interviewed several persons of interest in their pursuit of bringing justice to the Amenhotep family.
