Kayla Freeland

On February 6, 2016, Kayla-lynnAsia Peatrice Freeland, a 20-year-old Black woman and new mother, was found shot to death inside her Jacksonville, Florida, apartment. Her death left her family heartbroken and a community searching for answers that have remained elusive for years. Known to her mother as "prettylady," Kayla was the mother of an 11-month-old son named Daryl. Her life was violently cut short just one day before her baby was to celebrate his first birthday.

The morning of the tragedy unfolded in the Arlington Village apartment complex in the 1000 block of Bert Road. According to Kayla's boyfriend, he left the apartment they shared to make a brief trip to a convenience store. When he returned to the residence at 1033 Bert Road shortly before 10 a.m., he made a devastating discovery. Kayla was lying on the floor, deceased from a gunshot wound. The couple's infant son was found inside the apartment, physically unharmed but now without his mother.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was called to the scene, and police quickly classified the death as a homicide. Sgt. Dan Janson confirmed that the boyfriend reported finding her after he came back from the store. Around 11 a.m., investigators brought the baby out of the apartment and placed him in the care of relatives. The crime scene suggested that an unknown individual or individuals entered the home during the short window of time the boyfriend was away and killed Kayla.

In the immediate aftermath, Kayla's mother, Sha'Ron Gould, made a public appeal for anyone with information to come forward and break the "code of silence." The family was overwhelmed with grief but also with gratitude for the outpouring of support from the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department, where her mother worked, as well as from Kayla's former teachers and friends from Terry Parker High School, who shared memories and prayers. A GoFundMe campaign was organized to help with funeral expenses and to support the future care of her young son, Daryl. The fundraiser surpassed its goal, with friends, family, and community members contributing to help the grieving family.

Despite the initial investigation and the family's pleas, years have passed without a resolution. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest in the case. Details about the evidence collected at the scene or potential motives have been scarce, leaving Kayla’s loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty. The central questions of who entered her apartment that Saturday morning and why they took her life remain unanswered.

As of February 2016, the investigation into Kayla Freeland's murder is ongoing but has grown cold. Her case is a somber reminder of the violence that can shatter a family and a community. Her son is growing up without his mother, and her family is still waiting for justice. Authorities continue to ask for the public's help, hoping that someone will come forward with the key piece of information that could solve the case. Anyone with information is urged to call 866-845-TIPS to submit an anonymous tip.