The murder of a 16-year-old Kissimmee girl was a crime of opportunity and "could have been anybody," police officials say.
Anas Muhammad, 17, an upstairs neighbor at the Kensington Apartments and "estranged friend" of Osceola High School student Paola Pagan, was arrested with her stabbing murder around 1 a.m. Friday morning, after he confessed. He was fingerprinted and then transferred to the Juvenile Detention Center in Orange County, were he remains held on no bond at last report.
Muhammad was originally a character witness in the investigation, before he began exhibiting "dangerous thoughts," Kissimmee Police Deputy Chief Betty Holland said Friday.
"It was apparent that Mr. Muhammad had thoughts about killing, and unfortunately was able to carry this out," Holland said. "It's been over a period of time that he's had these thoughts ... that's what he told detectives. I believe it could have been anybody, he wanted to carry out that crime and she happened to be that person at that time."
She noted the victim and suspect had been friends in the past, but hadn't hung out in the last few years, and it's unknown why the friendship ended. Police are still investigating anything in Muhammad's background that would have led up to this.
Through the investigation, police learned Pagan was leaving for school at Osceola High around 6:20 a.m. Thursday, was attacked then, and was able to get back into her home. Fire/rescue units arrived and began lifesaving measures prior to her transfer to HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
"I'm thankful to the men and women of our department, from the criminal investigation unit to forensics and specialty units, who came together and worked through the day and night. Talking with her friends and acquaintances led them to Mr. Muhammad," Holland said. "There were no leads at first, it was a true 'whodunnit'. Their tenacity led them to talk to everyone she may have associated with. That was the reason Mr. Muhammad came on the radar."
Holland said the interview with Muhammad at first came from getting background on Pagan. During the interview, he began making statements "that just didn't seem accurate about his day." He gave details of the crime that only the perpetrator would know; they led to his confession, police said.
Police said that Muhammad, who was not enrolled in school, had a simple battery charge in his past that was not recent. Holland said investigators will now assemble a case to turn over to the State Attorney's Office for prosecution.
Grief counselors have been on campus at Osceola High School both Thursday and Friday to help student cope with the tragedy.
(The News-Gazette is only showing the mugshot of a juvenile because he has been arrested for a felony in the case.)
