ME's report reveals 3 young sisters found ‘drowned’ in pond were strangled and had lacerations on faces
ATLANTA, TEXAS: The three sisters who went missing last summer before their bodies were discovered in a Texas pond were strangled to death before being left in the water, according to a medical examiner's finding this week. This discovery has led to a homicide inquiry.
Zi'Ariel Oliver, 9, Amiyah Hughes, 8, and Temari Oliver, 5, were found dead in a pond on July 30, 2022 in a remote area of Cass County, close to the Arkansas border. Their sad drowning deaths as initially reported, left their family and the little town of Atlanta, Texas, in despair.
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Sisters had 'lacerations' on their faces
Yet, fresh information this week paints a different picture of what occurred. According to a news release from Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton that the Texarkana Gazette acquired, a medical examiner found that the sisters had "lacerations" on their faces and that they all died by strangling, as reported by DailyMail.
No suspects or a reason for the killings
Shelton said the inquiry has been ongoing for the past eight months and will continue. All parties involved, including her office, the Texas Rangers, and the sheriff's office, are urging anyone with information to come forward. Shelton added, "Multiple witness statements have been obtained, DNA testing is ongoing, and the investigation will continue." No suspects or a reason for the killings were mentioned by the district solicitor, as per reports.
Around 10 pm on July 29, 2022, Zi'Ariel, A'Miyah, and Temari went missing from their house in Atlanta, which is located about 200 miles east of Fort Worth. This prompted a multi-agency hunt for the kids.
The trio and their other siblings had been being watched by a family friend while their mother, Shommaonique Oliver, 28, was at work. The nanny reported their absence by dialling 911. Around 2:00 am on July 30, authorities learned that the girls had been discovered in a pond close to Highway 77, as per reports.
'So unreal'
The mother of the kids, Shommaonique Oliver, wrote on Facebook that losing her "sweet babies" had been "so unreal." She later stated that the event was a "big shock" in a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $17,000.