A 40-year-old woman in Milton, Florida, faces a murder charge after allegedly stabbing her 6-year-old daughter 20 times in their home. Authorities responded to the scene around midnight on a Wednesday following a family member's 911 call. The incident has left the community reeling from the tragedy.
April Oliva, 40, is accused of fatally stabbing her daughter, Valerie Oliva, at their residence in the 5000 block of Nowling Drive in Milton, located in Florida's Panhandle. According to the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office, deputies arrived at the home shortly after midnight on Wednesday in response to a report of a stabbing.
The sequence of events began when Oliva called her sister, mentioning "evil spirits" and stating that "something bad happened." The sister then instructed their father to check on the home. Upon entering through an unlocked door to the master bedroom and proceeding to the kitchen, the father found Oliva and Valerie covered in blood. He reported hearing Oliva yelling indistinctly before discovering the scene.
"April repeatedly stated, 'she's dead' and he observed Valerie's lifeless body," the probable cause affidavit noted. The father immediately called 911. When deputies arrived, they found Oliva lying on top of her daughter's body, with blood spread throughout the house, particularly in the kitchen.
Valerie was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered deep lacerations to her neck that exposed tissue and bone. A medical examiner confirmed 20 stab wounds and lacerations on the child, whose body was covered with a towel-like cloth and a kitchen rug. Oliva herself had apparent self-inflicted injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
At the time, Oliva was alone with Valerie, as the child's father—Oliva's husband—was out of town for work. The sheriff's office described the case as "deeply tragic," expressing thoughts for those affected and noting ongoing evidence collection and interviews.
Oliva is currently held without bond at the Santa Rosa County Jail, facing a murder charge.