A teenage girl has been kidnapped, tied up and killed while she was on her way to a pyjama party in Sweden.
Emilia Sjoberg, 14, was found dead in the town of Landskrona, in southern Sweden, last week. She was tied up with silver tape and had several cuts and bruises on her body, local media reports.
Two girls, both aged 15, have reportedly been arrested in connection to Emilia’s kidnapping and murder.
Police say they were friends with Emilia and invited her to a pyjama party before luring her to an industrial estate near the local train station where they killed her.
Chief investigator, Kenth Pehrsson, said that Emilia’s body showed signs of ‘severe violence’, but did not reveal her cause of death.
Emilia Sjoberg (pictured), 14, was found dead in the town of Landskrona, in southern Sweden, last week
Emilia (pictured above in 2023) was tied up with silver tape and had several cuts and bruises on her body, local media reports
Two girls, both aged 15, have reportedly been arrested in connection to Emilia’s (pictured) kidnapping and murder
Police say they were friends with Emilia and invited her to a pyjama party before luring her to an industrial estate near the local train station (crime scene pictured above) where they killed her
Her mother regularly shared footage of her daughter on social media, like above to Emilia’s 13th birthday last year
‘She was found with such injuries and under such circumstances that we suspect that her life was taken and that she was deprived of her freedom before that,’ prosecutor Tomas Olvmyr added.
Emilia is believed to have been killed sometime between July 21 and July 22, according to documents from the local court, and her body was found shortly after midnight on Tuesday, July 23.
The first girl, 15, was arrested in connection to Emilia’s kidnapping and murder on Wednesday, before the second 15-year-old teenager was taken into custody a day later.
One of the girls has reportedly confessed to being involved in the crime. ‘[She] also provided information about the background to why it has turned out the way it has,’ according to the prosecutor.
The girl’s solicitor, Maria Stahl Lindgren, confirmed to local media that her client had spoken to police and the prosecutor added that both girls had made ‘certain concessions’ to investigators.
‘It is clear that these three know each other. Both suspects know each other and both know the plaintiff,’ the prosecutor said.
The motive for the brutal murder was a fight over an insult, according to information obtained by Swedish newspaper Expressen – with Emilia’s mother, Anna Sjoberg, claiming to outlet Aftonbladet that her daughter was killed out of jealousy over a boy.
One of the suspects reportedly told police that there had been no plans to kill Emilia and that a fight got ‘out of hand’.
But Expressen reports that the girls had prepared for the encounter by stealing silver tape and a knife from various stores.
The 15-year-old – who was arrested first over the murder – was reportedly staying at the same home for teenagers Emilia was living in until recently. She remains in custody while the other girl has been taken into care by social services.
The girls even filmed part of the attack, which saw her brutally beating Emilia, according to Expressen.
On Thursday the local police and coastguard searched the harbour next to the industrial estate, but did not say what they were looking for. Two days prior a bag containing Emilia’s bank cards and other belongings were found in the water.
The motive for the brutal murder was a fight over an insult, according to information obtained by Swedish newspaper Expressen – with Emilia’s mother, Anna Sjoberg (pictured right with Emilia left), claiming to outlet Aftonbladet that her daughter was killed out of jealousy
On Thursday the local police and coastguard searched the harbour next to the industrial estate (pictured), but did not say what they were looking for
Later that day, chief investigator Pehrsson said that police had found a knife near the crime scene, which he did not rule out as the murder weapon. He added that a second knife has also been seized.
Emilia’s mother, Anna Sjoberg, 33, told local media that the family is struggling to come to terms with her daughter’s death: ‘I cannot accept that she is dead. We are in shock. Every time it rings I double check if it’s her. I am very much in denial.
‘We haven’t accepted it yet, we won’t accept it until we see her.’
Police told the family that they have identified Emilia, although results from a DNA test as well as comparing dental records are still outstanding, according to her mother.
Ms Sjoberg, who had Emilia when she was 19, said that the family hasn’t been allowed to see Emilia’s body and hopes they will be able to this week.
‘When the police came together with a priest and told me they had bad news, I replied that they can’t tell me because both my father and mother are already dead,’ devastated Ms Sjoberg said.
She added that since she was informed of her daughter’s death early last week, she has been in disbelief: ‘I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt her.’
Emilia’s mother, Anna Sjoberg (pictured), 33, told local media that the family is struggling to come to terms with her daughter’s death: ‘I cannot accept that she is dead. We are in shock. Every time it rings I double check if it’s her. I am very much in denial’
A picture from Emilia’s childhood shows her carefully petting a cat while wearing a pink dress
‘My daughter was an angel who always stood up for everyone. Maybe this world wasn’t ready for her,’ Ms Sjoberg (pictured) said
‘My daughter was an angel who always stood up for everyone. Maybe this world wasn’t ready for her,’ she told Swedish broadcaster TV4 Nyheterna.
Ms Sjoberg said her daughter had been stressed about the pyjama party and argued with her, before Emilia sent her a text message while on the train.
‘Sorry mum for behaving badly because I was stressed. I love you and you are my life,’ Emilia’s last message to her mother read.
The two had just recently started living together again after Emilia was placed in a home aged 5.
‘We were going to start over and planned what our home would look like. I had just finished building a dressing table for her and she had had to choose other furniture. She was so happy,’ her mother told TV4.
Ms Sjoberg said that Emilia’s new furniture will arrive in a few days. ‘I will set it up anyway. And close the door to her room. I want it to stay, I don’t want to forget her,’ she said.
A memorial service for Emilia is planned for today.
