Expand / Collapse search
☰

Hernando teen murdered by 16-year-old suspect at Cypress Lakes Preserve: Sheriff

By
Updated  March 28, 2025 3:30pm EDT
Hernando County
FOX 13 News

Arrest after teen girl found dead near nature preserve

Genevieve Curtis reports.

The Brief

    • A teenage girl was found murdered on Thursday morning and a 16-year-old boy has been charged in her death.
    • According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the body of the teen, who has not been publicly identified, was discovered by a passerby Thursday morning near Cypress Lakes Preserve.
    • Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the victim knew the suspect, but would not elaborate on their relationship.

RIDGE MANOR, Fla. - A teenage girl was killed by a 16-year-old at Cypress Lakes Preserve early Thursday morning, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. 

What we know:

Deputies say a passerby discovered the body of a teenage girl shortly before 9:40 a.m. on Thursday on a trail at the preserve. 

Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the teen’s death was suspicious and caused by homicidal violence. 

Dig deeper:

While investigators were on sight, they said someone showed up and said that a young lady was missing, and they believed she may be the teenager who was discovered dead. 

The sheriff said a witness told detectives that the victim left her home around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday. 

"We were relatively confident almost immediately that she went to go meet an individual who was likely the person who killed her," the sheriff stated. 

READ: Florida ‘super speeders’ may face stiffer penalties

According to HCSO, the teen was likely killed with an "edged weapon."

Hernando teen killed press conference

The Hernando County sheriff gives an update on a teen who was found murdered at Cypress Lake Preserve.

The sheriff said there was a lot of passion and violence involved in the death. 

"It was nothing short of very violent," the sheriff said. 

READ: Sheriff Grady Judd swears in boy with brain cancer as honorary Polk County deputy

He added that investigators interviewed dozens of people, searched through electronics and social media and got search warrants and preservation orders. 

On Friday, Cameron Cubel, 16, was in the process of being charged with first-degree murder. 

"We were relatively confident this was not a random act and, because she did sneak out in the middle of the night to meet with one or more individuals, we are confident that she likely knew the killer," Nienhuis shared. "This individual and the victim have known each other in the past."

What we don't know:

Nienhuis would not elaborate on what relationship the victim had with Cubel, but he did say that they knew each other. 

He also would not publicly release the victim's name or age. 

What you can do:

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers. Hernando County Crime Stoppers can be reached by phone at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or by texting **TIPS from a mobile device. Tips can also be submitted online at http://www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com. Tipsters will remain anonymous and can be eligible for a cash reward of $5,000.

The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: 

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

Hernando CountyCrime and Public Safety