Mother accused of stabbing 6-year-old daughter more than 20 times, killing her

MILTON, Fla. (WALA/Gray News) - A Florida mother is charged with second-degree murder after deputies found her 6-year-old daughter stabbed to death inside their home.

Deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded around midnight Wednesday to a home in Milton, where they found 6-year-old Valerie Oliva dead.

The girl’s mother, 40-year-old April Oliva, was found lying next to her daughter with cut wounds on her body. Chief Deputy Randy Tifft said the mother’s wounds were self-inflicted, and she was in stable condition.

“She had self-inflicted wounds on herself, and the 6-year-old was determined to be deceased as a result of multiple knife stab wounds,” Tifft said.

The arrest report states Valerie was stabbed more than 20 times. A kitchen knife was found in the dining room, according to investigators.

Records show Oliva called a relative around midnight, making confusing statements and talking about “evil spirits.”

The concerned family member sent another relative to the home to check on her. That relative could not get inside at first but heard Oliva yelling. When he entered the home and found the scene, he called 911, according to the report.

Valerie’s father was out of town for work at the time of the incident, and no one else was home, records show.

“This is a horrific incident,” Tifft said.

He added the sheriff’s office’s thoughts and prayers are with Valerie’s family. He said the case has been deeply disturbing, not only for her loved ones but also for the deputies and investigators who responded to the scene.

Oliva is charged with second-degree murder and is being held on no bond. She is due back in court Monday.