MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The mother of a South Florida teacher who was found over the weekend in a canal in Miami Gardens said she has no idea why someone would want to kill her daughter.
Linda Russell described her daughter, Kameela Russell, as a woman who was loved by many people.
"Knowing her and the type of person she was, I just don't understand it. I don't understand it at all," she said.
Linda Russell is now waiting for more information from Miami Gardens police as to what led up to her murder.
"Basically, they are just continuing the investigation now that they have recovered her body," she said.
Family, friends and loved ones of Kameela Russell gathered at the home in the 800 block of Northwest 203rd Street, where she was last seen on May 15 after getting the news that the Miami Norland Senior High School test administrator had been found dead.
Police said Russell was seen by a relative in her black Audi A6 in the driveway of the home before disappearing.
The medical examiner's office confirmed Thursday that Russell's body was found floating in a canal in the 20700 block of Northwest 15th Avenue this past Saturday.
The manner of death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt head injury.
Russell's mother is now watching over her 6-year-old and 15-year-old daughters.
"We were all crying last night. The older one -- the 15-year-old -- was like, 'Can we all sleep in the same room tonight?'" Linda Russell said. "If anybody saw her that day or saw where she went or saw if anyone was following her -- you know, somebody must have seen something or heard something, and I'm just hoping that someone would speak up."
Miami Gardens police swarmed a house last week just down the road from the family's home, bringing in K9 units and drones. But there still is no official word on whether the two incidents are connected.
Anyone with information about Russell's killing is asked to call Miami Gardens police Detective P. Valdes at 305-474-1454. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. A reward of up to $3,000 is offered for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest.