A 14-year-old Georgia girl has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering her mother, a crime that came after she abandoned plans for a school shooting inspired by other mass killers. The sentencing occurred after the teen, Lilyana Wagner, crashed her mother's car in Tifton in November 2024.
Authorities discovered the homicide when they attempted to contact her mother, Rachel Wagner, 51, who had not reported for work and was found dead in her bed with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Lilyana Wagner was found with a shaved portion of her head following the fatal incident.
Wagner later confessed in a handwritten note that she had intended to commit a school shooting but ultimately chose to kill her mother. She wrote that the overall event was inspired by six other school shooters, though the specific individuals were not named in the report. She also noted that killing her mother was a "last-minute choice."
Investigators learned that Wagner had cultivated a significant online presence focused on planning and executing mass casualty events. She communicated with anonymous individuals who encouraged her violent aspirations. These communications occurred on platforms that evaded detection by keyword and content analysis software, allowing her to plan the crime without prior intervention.
The teen purchased the firearm used in the murder from a pawn shop approximately one month before the incident. Wagner pleaded guilty and will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 30 years.
District Attorney Patrick Warren stated that there were no winners in the case, noting the tragic outcome for both Rachel Wagner and Lilyana Wagner. He reflected on the decisions that led to the event, questioning the influence of online connections and the provision of the weapon and ammunition, while also acknowledging the potential need for greater support and resources for both individuals.