A 16-year-old Missouri girl was found shot dead in her home, and three of her friends have been charged in connection with her death and the subsequent discovery by her mother. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office stated that Gabbriana Boyster was allegedly struck in the head in a Hillsboro residence on Friday evening.
Her mother, Candy G’Sell, made the discovery the following afternoon. Investigators believe Boyster's body was left undiscovered for several hours after the shooting. G’Sell told reporters she found her daughter "laying there… sitting up" in a room within their house.
Authorities suspect three boys were present at Boyster's home at the time of the incident. One individual has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon resulting in death, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse. The other two face charges of abandonment of a corpse. G'Sell identified the boys as friends of her daughter, who was preparing to start her junior year at Hillsboro High School and aspired to become an ultrasound technician.
Family members described Boyster as a vibrant and caring individual who brought joy to those around her. An online obituary noted that she was the youngest of three siblings and that her "kind heart, playful spirit, and the joy she brought to others will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered."