2 days ago
Mother's distress as daughter, 15, found murdered 'by man, 67,' who then killed himself
An elderly murder suspect took his own life days after the body of a teen girl was mysteriously found in a senior community.
Kyelonna Meya Smiley, 15, was discovered in the apartment near 75th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard in Phoenix at 9.40am on August 4.
She had been fatally shot in the head and Nohe Prado Morelia, 67, was quickly linked to the crime - though police won't say how.
Four days later, Morelia was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a business near 24th and Van Buren streets.
Phoenix police said they were satisfied Morelia murdered Kyelonna, but without any idea of a motive they closed the case.
Neither detectives nor Kyelonna's mother Fiyonna Austin have any idea why the teenager was even in the apartment.
Austin said her daughter left home on August 1 and she thought she was staying with a friend.
Kyelonna left home without permission several other times in the past, but always came back - but by August 4 she was worried enough to report her missing.
Austin is frustrated at how little police told her, and the many unanswered questions surrounding her daughter's murder.
Kyelonna, who was about to start her freshman year at Trevor Browne High School, will be laid to rest on Friday.
'Her promising life was cut short, leaving us with immense grief,' Austin said.
