40-year-old woman told her sister “something bad happened” right after she stabbed her 6-year-old daughter over 20 times while the girl’s father was out of town for work; charged

Florida – In a deeply disturbing case in Florida, a 40-year-old mother, identified as A. Oliva, has been charged with murder after authorities say she stabbed her 6-year-old daughter more than 20 times inside their family home and then called her sister and told her “something bad happened.”

The mother is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, according to the sheriff’s office. The killing happened late on Feb. 24 inside the family’s residence, while the victim’s father was out of town for work. Authorities say the violence unfolded just before midnight. According to a probable cause affidavit, Oliva called her sister shortly before deputies were alerted, making statements about “evil spirits” and saying that “something bad happened.” The call was described by her sister as disturbing and difficult to understand. Concerned, the sister asked their father to go to the home and check on the situation.

When Oliva’s father arrived, he could hear her yelling from inside but could not clearly understand what she was saying. He entered through an unlocked door and walked toward the kitchen, where he made a horrifying discovery. Investigators wrote that he saw both Oliva and his granddaughter “covered in blood.” Oliva reportedly kept repeating, “she’s dead,” as he observed the 6-year-old girl lying motionless. The grandfather immediately called 911.

Deputies responded around midnight and entered the residence. According to investigators, there was blood throughout the home, especially in the kitchen area. When officers located Oliva, she was lying on top of her daughter’s body. According to reports, the victim was pronounced dead. The victim’s body had been partially covered with a towel-like cloth and a kitchen rug. A medical examiner later determined the 6-year-old suffered more than 20 stab wounds and lacerations to her neck and body.

Oliva herself had apparent self-inflicted cuts and was transported to a hospital for treatment before being booked into jail. Officials confirmed that Oliva was the only adult home at the time. The victim’s father was traveling for work when the attack occurred. In a statement, the sheriff’s office called the case deeply tragic and confirmed that detectives were continuing to gather evidence and conduct interviews. Oliva was arrested shortly after deputies arrived and is currently being held in the county jail without bond.

During a pretrial detention hearing on March 2, Oliva’s  attorney told the court he intends to have his client evaluated for competency and sanity at the time of the alleged crime. Under Florida law, if a defendant is found insane at the time of the incident, they may be ruled not guilty by reason of insanity and could be committed to a state mental health facility rather than sentenced to prison. The judge granted a continuance and rescheduled the hearing for March 16. At this stage, Oliva remains formally charged with murder, and the case is ongoing.

The killing of the young girl has left the community shaken. What began as a troubling late-night phone call ended in a scene investigators described as overwhelming: a child dead, a mother wounded, and a home stained by violence. As prosecutors prepare their case and the defense pursues a mental health evaluation, the court will ultimately determine criminal responsibility. For now, a 6-year-old girl is gone, her life cut short in the very place meant to keep her safe.