Mother of slain 15-year-old girl wants alleged killer in jail

MIAMI – The mother of a slain 15-year-old girl has been waiting for justice since a 17-year-old boy shot her in the head on May 12 in Miami.

Thalys Oliveira, now 18 years old, is facing a charge of manslaughter with a deadly weapon. Oliveira was accused of shooting Arya Gray, a Miami Beach Senior High School student.

“She did not deserve to die. My child had everything going for her. She had so many loved ones,” Arya’s mother, Maria Elena Gray, said on Thursday.

Thalys Gabriel Oliveira appeared in front of a judge in a virtual hearing in the shooting of 15-year-old Arya Gray. (WPLG)

Prosecutors charged Oliveira as an adult on June 3. The coronavirus pandemic delayed his trial. On Thursday night, he remained on house arrest with his parents. Manslaughter with a deadly weapon is a bondable offense.

Maria Elena Gray said Oliveira needs to be behind bars.

“I feel like the justice system isn’t on my side,” she said.

Maria Elena Gray said she hasn't had peace since her 15-year-old daughter died after she was shot in the head in May. (Copyright 2020 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.)

The grieving mother said she thinks about her daughter when she is awake and she has nightmares when she is sleeping.

“I know it’s not going to bring my child back ... at least Arya can look down and say, ‘You did it, mom!’ He deserves to be in jail,” she said through tears. “He deserves to be in jail!”


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.