BAYTOWN – The body of a 15-year-old student found outside at a Baytown park has been identified by her loved ones.
On Tuesday morning, the body of Sterling High School sophomore Jania Tatum-Scott was reportedly found at the park right across the street from her mother’s apartment with deadly gunshot wounds.
The medical examiner says the teen was shot twice in the torso.
Investigators said the body was found in the middle of a field at Tejas Park located in the 500 block of Hafer Avenue around 8:15 a.m. after someone in the area alerted them about her body.
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Jania’s mom, Angie Tatum, told KPRC 2 that her body was found on Dec. 28, just three days after Christmas, however, it is unclear exactly when she died.
According to Angie, the park where her daughter’s body was located was her favorite park.
Jania was said to have been loved by many and excelled in track and field. She previously participated in the high jump where she earned medals for her athleticism.
“It runs in the family,” her uncle Billy Snell said. “She definitely was running track and very well at it.”
Snell says the last time he and his sister Angie saw Jania was Monday night around 11.
“I did not see her leave. We have cameras,” he said. “The cameras did not catch her leaving. We don’t even know how she got out of the house, honestly. It is mind-blowing and baffling at this moment.”
Jania’s family has created a GoFundMe page to help with unforeseen expenses.
On Monday at 4:30 p.m., the teen’s family and friends will hold a balloon release in her honor. Her funeral is set for Saturday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at Word of Faith Family Christian Center.