D.H.R. Investigated Abuse Complaint Involving Murdered 5th Grader

INVERNESS, Ala.—- The Department of Human Resources confirmed Thursday they investigated an abuse complaint involving an Inverness 5th grader months before she was murdered.

A spokesman told NBC13HD they looked into an anonymous tip that 11 year old Katherine Gillespie was being physically abused in February of this year.

He claimed the probe did not find any evidence of abuse.

Four months later Gillespie was found murdered in the Kerry Downs Road home where she was living with her legal guardian, 35 year old Ryan Russell.

Russell has since been charged with shooting Gillespie in the back of the head with a pistol and stuffing her body face first into a garbage can placing on the floor of an S.U.V.

Gillespie’s autopsy report showed signs someone sexually assaulted her but lab testing which can identify her attacker is not complete..