A 16-year-old boy from Florida ‘passionately and violently’ murdered a teen girl in a brutal crime that has sparked unsettling comparisons to the Netflix series Adolescence.

Abbriella Elliot, of Hernando County, was tragically found dead by a hiker on a trail near Cypress Lakes Preserve last week, just weeks after celebrating her 16th birthday.

Police arrested 16-year-old Cameron Cubel in connection with the killing shortly after the heartbreaking discovery.

‘We could tell pretty quickly that there was a lot of passion and a lot of violence involved in the particular death,’ Sheriff Al Nienhuis of the Hernando County Police Department said.

‘So we were relatively confident that it wasn’t a random act,’ he added. ‘It was nothing short of very violent.’ 

Shortly before 9.40am on March 27, a passerby walking along the Cypress Lakes Preserve Trailhead discovered the body of a teenage girl, prompting a 911 call to authorities.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found the teenage girl 50ft to 100ft inside the wooded trail, where investigators believe she was ‘violently’ killed.

Authorities said she was likely killed with an ‘edged weapon’, though they haven’t yet confirmed exactly what the weapon was.

As investigators worked to piece together the scene, a witness – who had also reported Abbriella missing – approached officers and revealed that the girl had left home in the middle of the night, around 1.30am, to meet with someone.

‘We were relatively confident almost immediately that she went to go meet an individual who was likely the person who killed her,’ Nienhuis said.

Based on the the witness’s admission, officers were able to identify the body as that  of Abbriella. 

Officers began conducting ‘old-fashioned police work’, going door to door to gather information and dozens of interviews, both formal and informal. 

Additionally, officers combed through electronics and social media, securing search warrants and preservation orders to gather crucial evidence. 

During their investigation, authorities discovered that Cameron, one of the individuals they interviewed, had lied about where he was the night of the murder. 

Although Nienhuis told reporters that the suspect and victim knew each other in the past, he wouldn’t elaborate how.

However, Abbriella’s parents revealed that Cameron was their daughter’s ex-boyfriend, with the two having broken up roughly six to eight months ago, KHOU News reported.

‘My granddaughter Abby didn’t have a chance to grow into what your supposed to be,’ Abbriella’s grandmother told the Hernando Sun. ‘Her ex-boyfriend took that from her.’ 

Cameron, who has a prior battery charge, was named the primary suspect and was taken into custody the following day in connection with Abbriella’s murder. 

Abbriella’s family held a vigil on Sunday afternoon, where dozens of people gathered to share their most cherished memories of the beloved 16-year-old girl, Bay News 9 reported.

‘She could put a smile on anybody’s face,’ Danyel Caltagirone, Abbriella’s mother, said during the vigil, according to the outlet. ‘Everyone who met her, she left an impact on.’

Leo Lind, Abbriella’s stepfather, told the gathered crowd that he never imagined he would have to hold a vigil like this, while also expressing his gratitude to everyone who attended and thanking them for their support.

‘The light she brings to people, her smiles, she’s just fun to be around,’ Lind said. ‘I’m just so happy, and I know she’s here with us and she saw the turnout.’

Cameron was in the process of being charged with first-degree murder as of Friday. He is currently being charged as a juvenile, though that may change as the case progresses.

‘I’m talking with the state attorney,’ Nienhuis said. ‘I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but in these types of cases, it’s very likely he will be charged as an adult. If they haven’t already done that.’

A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise funds for Abbriella’s memorial, ensuring she is laid to rest with peace and love.

‘She was loved by every person that met her, she was always smiling and singing and acting goofy and she had so much life ahead of her,’ the fundraiser page said.

As of Friday afternoon, the family has raised $10,345 – an amount exceeding their initial goal of $10,000.

The horrific murder has since drawn eerie parallels to the new Netflix series, Adolescence.

The four-part series, which follows the story of a young boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) who is accused of killing his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday), has received rave reviews thus far.

Since being aired on the streaming service on March 13, the show has gained a whopping 96.7 global views and has landed a spot on Netflix’s all-time Most Popular English TV list.

It has even replaced Bridgerton Season 2 on the list and pushed Stranger Things 3 down to the tenth spot. 

If the show continues it’s record-breaking streak, it has a chance to replace top spot Wednesday: Season 1 which holds 252million views. 

Or steal second spot from Stranger Things 4, which garnered a staggering 140million views. 

Adolescence draws unsettling comparisons to Abbriella’s case, as both of the victims were young girls who were stabbed and discarded on the street.

In the show, the two teens knew each other, similar to Abbriella. Additionally, both attacks were described as ‘violent’.

Anyone with information about Abbriella’s death is encouraged to call the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at 352-754-6830 and ask to speak with Detective J. Mitro.

Hernando County Crime Stoppers can also be reached at 866-990-TIPS (8477) or through text at **TIPS from a mobile device.