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Coroner releases cause of death of murdered Richland County teen

15-year-old Sanaa Amenhotep died the same day she went missing, the coroner believes.

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — The Lexington County Coroner's office says a missing Richland County teen who was murdered died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Coroner Margaret Fisher released the results of an autopsy done Friday on 15-year-old Sanaa Amenhotep. The autopsy was conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. 

Fisher officially ruled the teen's death a homicide. 

Amenhotep was reported missing on April 5, and Fisher said based on their findings, they now believe she was killed the same day of her disappearance. 

RELATED: 'I need justice for my daughter': Mother of murdered SC teen remembers her girl

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Amenhotep's body was discovered in Lexington County early Thursday morning in a wooded are off Interstate 20 near Batesburg-Leesville. 

The girl was last seen leaving her north Columbia residence and was reported missing by her mother. According to Lott, Amenhotep likely left her home voluntarily with a young woman and two male acquaintances, but things changed quickly, and that she was kidnapped by the two males. 

RELATED: Sheriff: Missing 15-year-old Richland County girl murdered, suspect wanted

Officers have arrested one juvenile and charged him with kidnapping, but they're looking for one additional suspect, Treveon Nelson. They also believe he was involved in the kidnapping.

Credit: RCSD
Treveon Nelson

"We need him, he needs to be held responsible for what he did," Lott said Thursday. 

Most of the investigation led them to Lexington County, and Lott said further charges in this case would come from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. 

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