Tragedy Strikes Close to Christmas: Nine-Year-Old Schoolgirl Brutally Murdered in Her Own Home, Teenage Boy Arrested
- Aria Thorpe, a “beautiful” and “sassy” nine-year-old, was found dead with suspected stab wounds in her Weston-super-Mare home
- A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, just minutes after police arrived at the scene
- The community is left reeling in shock, with friends and family describing Aria as a “K-Pop Demon Hunter fan” who was excited for Christmas
In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken the quiet town of Weston-super-Mare, a nine-year-old schoolgirl was brutally murdered in her own home, just two weeks after celebrating her birthday. Aria Thorpe, a bright and bubbly youngster, was found with suspected stab wounds, leaving her family and friends devastated.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene around 6.10pm on Monday, but despite their best efforts, Aria was pronounced dead at the scene. In a stunning development, a teenage boy was arrested just minutes later, at 6.19pm, on suspicion of murder.
Close friends of Aria, like Tamara Taylor, are struggling to come to terms with the loss. “My daughter Mollie was best friends with Aria, and I don’t know how we’re going to break it to her that she won’t see her again,” Tamara said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Aria was always around here playing with Mollie – they were inseparable.”
“Aria had her ninth birthday a couple of weeks ago, and they dressed up as a K-Pop band, putting on clothes and make-up,” Tamara recalled, her eyes welling up with tears. “Aria was a sassy little girl who loved dressing up and putting on make-up. Mollie and Aria did everything together away from school, and it’s just so heartbreaking what has happened.”
Mollie’s dad, Lee, who last saw Aria on Monday night, described her as “her usual chatty self”. “She was getting excited about breaking up for Christmas,” he said, his voice cracking with grief. “It’s tragic what has happened, and I’m sure the family will never get over what has happened.”
Superintendent Jen Appleford warned that the community would be “distraught and shocked” by the news, and vowed to provide support to Aria’s family during this difficult time. “A criminal investigation is already well underway to establish the facts of this case,” she said, promising an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.
As the investigation continues, a police cordon remains in place in the road, serving as a grim reminder of the tragedy that has unfolded. The community is left to mourn the loss of a bright young life, taken far too soon.