Missing six-year-old US girl found dead in woodland, 14-year-old boy arrested

Grace Ross was reported missing last Friday.

A missing six-year-old girl has been found dead in the US and a 14-year-old boy arrested in connection with the case.

Grace Ross, from Indiana, was reported missing by her family last week near the New Carlisle area. PEOPLE reports that her remains have since been recovered from a local wooded area.

A teenage boy has since been arrested in connection with the case. His identity is currently being withheld as he is “progressing through the juvenile system.”

Local news source WSBT reports that preliminary autopsy results show that the six-year-old died of homicide by asphyxiation.

The girl’s school have since released a statement, saying: “Our school district and school family has suffered a tremendous loss.

“This past Friday evening one of our fellow students in kindergarten at Olive Elementary died. The circumstances of the student’s death are under investigation. Local police have arrested a suspect and have them in custody.

“There will be counsellors and local pastors available tomorrow for students and staff to talk with during the school day.”

Around 200 people attended a vigil for Grace at New Carlisle’s Memorial Park on Saturday night, including her mother, Michelle Ross.

She told the crowd: “Grace was loved by everybody and she was friends with everybody. She would go up to a stranger on the street and be like, ‘Hi, I’m Grace and I’m six.'”

Grace’s family has since launched a fundraiser on Facebook to pay for the girl’s funeral and any additional costs.

“My darling six-year-old niece Grace Ross passed away yesterday,” said aunt Nicole Ross. “She is now an angel in heaven. I’m raising money to help her parents with her funeral expenses.”

Nicole later took to social media to thank the public for their donations. She said: “Thank you for everything you guys have given. I’ll leave the fundraiser up until tomorrow for anyone still looking to donate.

“Everyone has been amazing. The outpouring of support from the community has been a major blessing.”

Imagery via Facebook.