Investigators say a 6-year-old was found stabbed inside a home off Nowling Drive.
MILTON, Fla. — A Santa Rosa County woman is accused of killing her 6-year-old daughter after deputies responding to a late-night 911 call found the child dead inside a Milton-area home, officials said. The mother, April Oliva, was taken to a hospital for treatment before an arrest warrant was issued.
The case has focused attention on the first hours of a homicide investigation and the steps that follow when a suspect is also a patient. Deputies and detectives are piecing together a timeline from the scene on Nowling Drive, interviews with relatives and potential witnesses, and physical evidence collected inside the home. Officials have not announced a motive, and they have said the investigation is continuing.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were sent to a home in the 5000 block of Nowling Drive at about midnight after a 911 call reporting a cutting incident. Officials said deputies found April Oliva, 40, lying with the body of her daughter, Valerie Oliva, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The agency called the death “deeply tragic” in a statement and said detectives were continuing to gather evidence and conduct interviews as they worked to determine what led to the child’s killing.
In a separate briefing, Chief Deputy Randy Tift said the mother was found with cut wounds and that investigators determined those injuries were self-inflicted. Tift said the child died from multiple knife stab wounds. Investigators later described finding a kitchen knife in the dining room and documented extensive injuries to the child. Authorities have not released details about the child’s final moments, including where she was in the house, whether she tried to flee, or whether deputies found signs of forced entry.
Records described relatives becoming concerned shortly before deputies arrived. Investigators said April Oliva called a relative around midnight and made statements that family members found confusing, including references to “evil spirits.” A concerned relative asked another family member to go to the home to check on her, records said. That person initially could not get inside but heard April Oliva yelling, according to investigators. After entering and seeing what happened, the relative called 911, the report said.
Investigators said Valerie’s father was out of town for work and that no one else was home when deputies arrived. Officials have not said whether the home had a history of prior calls for service or whether child welfare authorities had previous involvement with the family. Detectives also have not disclosed whether the mother left a note, whether a weapon was recovered from her immediate reach, or whether toxicology testing has been requested. Authorities said they will release additional information as it becomes available.
Officials said April Oliva was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. After investigators reviewed the scene and information gathered overnight, a warrant was issued charging her with second-degree murder in connection with her daughter’s death, the sheriff’s office said. It was not immediately clear when Oliva would be medically cleared for booking or an initial court appearance. Authorities did not announce bond information, conditions of release, or the timing of a first hearing, and they did not identify a defense attorney.
Detectives are expected to continue interviews with relatives, first responders, and anyone who may have had recent contact with the family, while forensic work continues on evidence recovered from the home. Investigators also typically seek medical examiner findings to confirm the cause and manner of death, though officials did not provide a timeline for any autopsy report. The sheriff’s office said the case remains active and that updates would come as investigators complete the next steps.
As of Thursday, authorities had not announced any additional arrests or charges and had not released new details about what led up to the 911 call. The sheriff’s office said the investigation was ongoing, with more information expected once interviews and evidence review are completed.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 26, 2026.