The body of 15-year-old Sabriya McLean from New Castle, Del. was found on Tuesday in Philadelphia; she had been stabbed 80 times and set on fire. Police say her killer is 23-year-old Cole Swaringer-Herring, whom McLean met on Facebook.
According to local news station WPVI-TV, McLean and Swaringer-Herring met in person on Monday night. It is unknown how long they knew each other previously, or when they met through Facebook. Police claim the suspect brutalized and killed the young victim during that encounter. Swaringer-Herring confessed the crime to his parents, who were away when the alleged murder happened but returned home. The man’s parents contacted the police the next day.
Swaringer-Herring was arrested at the murder scene. McLean’s body was found under a pile of leaves. Swaringer-Herring has been charged with murder, arson, and abuse of a corpse among other related offenses. The crime was so brutal that police are considering Swaringer-Herring for other violent crimes that have taken place in the area.
“It was a very violent act so we’re looking at him in connection to some other possible cases that we’ve had,” Police Capt. Jack Ryan told WPVI-TV.
