A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe in a shocking incident that has left a Somerset community reeling.
Emergency Response and Tragic Discovery
Emergency services were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare at 6.09pm on Monday, 15 December 2025. Despite their efforts, young Aria was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary post-mortem examination has since established that the child died from a single stab wound.
The teenage suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, was subsequently charged with her murder. He is scheduled to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court later today, Wednesday 17 December 2025.
Community in Shock and Police Support
Superintendent Jen Appleford of Avon and Somerset Police described the profound impact of the tragedy. She stated that the community was in a state of shock and that Aria's family were being supported by specially trained officers.
"It is impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been for them and we'd like to reiterate in the strongest possible terms their request for privacy," Supt Appleford said.
Police remain at the scene, with a cordon in place as forensic officers continue their investigation. The force has confirmed it is working closely with local schools and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to those affected by this devastating event.
Ongoing Investigation and Tributes
As the legal process begins, the police investigation continues. Flowers and other tributes have been left near Lime Close in memory of Aria Thorpe, a poignant testament to a young life tragically cut short.
This incident has brought the issue of knife crime sharply into focus within the local area, prompting a coordinated community response to support residents, particularly children and young people, in the wake of the tragedy.
