A 16-year-old Georgia girl was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering her mother in November 2024, following an abandoned plan to commit a school shooting, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The Tifton District Attorney’s office stated that Lilyana Rose Wagner had been obsessed with mass casualty events and had communicated with anonymous individuals online who encouraged her to plan and commit murder. Wagner’s mother, Rachel Wagner, 51, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the back of her head after police performed a welfare check at the family home.
Key Developments
- Wagner was 14 years old when she killed her mother in November 2024.
- She abandoned a planned school shooting at her former middle school, opting instead to murder her mother, according to a handwritten confession.
- Wagner listed six school shooters by name in her confession, stating her actions were inspired by them.
- The firearm used in the killing was purchased by Rachel Wagner a month prior and kept in the home.
Investigation Details
Police were alerted to the crime after Wagner crashed her mother’s car and told responding officers she lived alone. A welfare check at the residence revealed Rachel Wagner’s death. Investigators later determined that Wagner had communicated via apps with anonymous individuals who encouraged her violent plans.
In her confession, Wagner wrote: “This whole thing was a last-minute choice. I was going to commit a school shooting at my old middle school but chose this instead. Although I didn’t commit a school shooting, the whole event was inspired by these people.”
Legal Proceedings
Wagner pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated assault and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case has drawn attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the crime, including the teen’s documented obsession with mass shootings and the role of online influences in her actions.
Background on the Case
Authorities reported that Wagner had developed an online presence centered on mass casualty events and had expressed interest in planning such an attack. The firearm used in the killing was legally purchased by Rachel Wagner, who permitted her daughter to store the weapon in her bedroom. Prosecutors noted that the gun had been kept accessible, though they did not specify whether Rachel Wagner was aware of her daughter’s intentions.