Nationwide — Juliana Nzita, a 16-year-old African American girl from Charlotte, North Carolina, was found dead on church property after being reported missing in late April. Local police have already classified her death as suicide.
Authorities said Nzita was reported missing on April 28, 2026, according to The North Carolina Beat. Her family searched for her while community posts and tips spread across social media. She had been living in North Carolina after originally moving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On May 8, 2026, community volunteer Kenneth Tolbert, known as “Mufasa,” said he came across what appeared to be the body of a teenage girl hanging from a tree near West Sugar Creek Road on property linked to The United House of Prayer for All People.
Tolbert said he quickly alerted nearby church members and then contacted police. He later left the scene due to a prior commitment. He also provided video footage showing a small blue chair under a tree and a rope above, with the girl’s feet still close to the ground. A church member reportedly said the area had been checked the day before and saw nothing unusual.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department records confirmed Nzita was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. on May 8, 2026, in the 4200 block of West Sugar Creek Road. The report documented the location and initial findings.
Police classified the death as suicide in their official notes. Investigators also said they did not receive a response from Nzita’s family when contacted. The church did not release any public statement.