Georgia teenager who killed her mother when she was 14 has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to felony murder and aggravated assault in the case.
Lilyana Rose Wagner, now 16, received the sentence in connection with the November 2024 death of her mother, 51-year-old Rachel Suzanne Wagner, in Tifton, according to Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney Patrick Warren. Wagner must serve at least 30 years before she can become eligible for parole.
The case came to light on Nov. 19, 2024, after Wagner was involved in a vehicle crash in Crawford County. She told officers that she lived with her mother, who had not reported to work and was not responding to calls.
Tifton police then went to the family’s home for a welfare check. Officers found Rachel Wagner dead in her bedroom from a gunshot wound, according to investigators.
The subsequent investigation by the Tifton Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigation uncovered information from Wagner’s phone and online communications. Prosecutors said investigators found that she had developed an interest in school shootings and mass-casualty attacks and had communicated with people online who encouraged her plans for violence.
Investigators also determined that Wagner continued communicating with people online after her mother’s death, according to the district attorney’s office.
A handwritten confession provided another significant piece of evidence in the case. Wagner acknowledged killing her mother and said she had previously considered carrying out a shooting at her former middle school before changing her plans.
The firearm used in the killing had been purchased by Rachel Wagner at a Valdosta pawn shop about a month before her death. Prosecutors said Rachel had allowed her daughter to keep the firearm and ammunition in her bedroom.
The case has also raised concerns about the influence of online communities on young people and the importance of recognizing warning signs before violent plans escalate.
District Attorney Patrick Warren urged parents to pay attention to who their children interact with online and what those interactions may be encouraging them to believe or do.
“Parents, I urge you to never underestimate the influence that exists behind your child’s screen,” Warren said.
Warren also pointed to several factors surrounding the case, including Wagner’s online contacts, her access to a firearm and the possibility that additional support could have changed the outcome.
He said the tragedy should encourage people to speak up when they see someone struggling or when something appears wrong.
Wagner will remain in prison under the life sentence and will not be eligible to seek parole until she has served at least 30 years.
