Ex-boyfriend accused of fatally stabbing teen in FL nature preserve now indicted

A 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a Florida nature preserve has now been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder, prosecutors announced.

Cameron Cubel will face prosecution as an adult following the death of Abbriella Elliott, who had turned 16 two weeks before she was killed, according to State Attorney Bill Gladson and the girl’s family.

A passerby reported finding the body of the 16-year-old girl near a trailhead at Cypress Lake Preserve the morning of March 27, McClatchy News previously reported.

Investigators believe Elliott left home overnight and went to the nature preserve to meet up with her ex-boyfriend, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said at a news conference.

There, Cubel is accused of using a sharp object to kill Elliott then fleeing as she died.

Elliott’s family said the teen girl had “an extraordinary ability to make others feel loved and cherished.”

Gladson, the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, said at a news conference broadcast by WFLA that the two teens were exes but remained in contact.

“We do have evidence of what I think could be described as somewhat of a dysfunctional relationship,” Gladson said.

Since the time of his arrest, Cubel has been held on no-bond at a juvenile facility, according to prosecutors.

“Abby loved watching movies, hanging out with family and friends, and completely being a goofball, and she had a remarkable ability to pursue her interests with an unwavering enthusiasm,” family wrote in her obituary. “Her love for life was contagious, and she inspired those around her to live life with the same zest and joy she did.”

Cypress Lake Preserve is about a 50-mile drive northeast from Tampa.

This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Ex-boyfriend accused of fatally stabbing teen in FL nature preserve now indicted."