An arrest report says the child was stabbed more than 20 times.
MILTON, Fla. — A Florida mother was charged with second-degree murder after deputies found her 6-year-old daughter stabbed to death in a home near Milton around midnight, according to investigators. The mother, April Oliva, was found nearby with cuts that officials said were self-inflicted.
The death of Valerie Oliva has prompted a homicide investigation in Santa Rosa County as detectives work to reconstruct what happened inside the house on Nowling Drive and why. Authorities have released few details about a motive, but records described a series of troubling calls to relatives shortly before deputies arrived. The mother was taken to a hospital and was reported in stable condition.
Deputies were dispatched to the 5000 block of Nowling Drive at about midnight after a 911 call reporting a cutting incident, investigators said. When deputies entered the home, they found Valerie Oliva dead. Her mother, 40-year-old April Oliva, was lying next to the child with cut wounds on her body. Santa Rosa County Chief Deputy Randy Tift said the injuries to the mother were self-inflicted. “She had self-inflicted wounds on herself, and the six-year-old was determined to be deceased as a result of multiple knife stab wounds,” Tift said.
An arrest report said the child was stabbed more than 20 times. Investigators reported finding a kitchen knife in the dining room, and they continued to process the home for evidence while the case was reviewed by detectives. Authorities did not immediately describe where in the home the child was found or whether there were signs of a struggle. Officials also did not say whether the mother made any statements to deputies at the scene, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Records described relatives becoming alarmed after receiving a call around midnight from April Oliva, who made confusing statements and spoke about “evil spirits,” according to investigators. A concerned family member asked another relative to go to the home to check on her. That person initially could not get inside but heard April Oliva yelling, the report said. After getting into the house and seeing what had happened, the relative called 911, according to investigators. Authorities have not said whether anyone else was contacted or if there were earlier calls for service at the address.
Investigators said the child’s father was out of town for work at the time of the incident and that no one else was home. Officials did not release details about the family’s background or whether the child had siblings. The sheriff’s office has not publicly identified a suspected sequence of events leading to the child’s death, and it has not said whether the mother’s reported comments to relatives will play a role in how the case is presented to prosecutors.
Santa Rosa County investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging April Oliva with second-degree murder, officials said. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and authorities said she was in stable condition as the warrant was issued. Detectives said they are continuing to gather evidence and conduct interviews. Court records and jail booking information were not immediately included in the agency’s public statements, and officials did not announce an initial court appearance date or whether a public defender or private attorney had been assigned.
Neighbors along the residential stretch of Nowling Drive awoke to emergency lights and a heavy law enforcement presence as the home became a crime scene. Investigators moved in and out of the house while deputies secured the area and relatives waited nearby. Officials did not say how long deputies remained on scene, but investigators indicated the case would remain active as they completed interviews and awaited additional findings from forensic work. Authorities have not released information about funeral arrangements for the child.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information will be released when available. April Oliva remained under medical care as of Thursday, and the murder charge is expected to move forward once she is cleared for the next steps in the criminal process.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 26, 2026.