River Oaks police investigate 6-year-old girl’s death as homicide; juvenile in custody

A 6-year-old girl was fatally injured outside her River Oaks home Wednesday night in a homicide, the police chief said Thursday.

River Oaks Police Chief Christopher Spieldenner did not comment on how the girl was killed.

But the police chief said a juvenile male was arrested at the scene and faces a charge of delinquent conduct-murder. Police have not said how old the suspect is and did not publicly identify him because he is a minor.

Spieldenner did not provide a motive for the killing or comment on the relationship between the suspect and the victim.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Isabella Courtney. She was injured at her home in the 1800 block of Melba Court and died about 8:30 p.m. in the emergency room at Cook Children’s Medical Center, according to the medical examiner’s records. No cause of death is listed, pending an autopsy.

River Oaks police responded to a call of an injured person shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Once they arrived on the scene, officers found the victim outside of her home on Melba Court. Officers began administering medical aid until paramedics arrived, the chief said.

The girl was then taken to the Fort Worth hospital where she died.

The juvenile suspect who the police chief said was involved in the incident was detained at the scene. Other people were inside the home at the time of the incident, and children were outside in the yard, River Oaks police said.

“They don’t get any worse than this,” Spieldenner said, referring to a homicide involving a child.

Close friends of the family started a GoFundMe page to raise money to help the parents with “memorial expenses and family expenses associated with the loss of Bella Courtney,” the website says.

“She has touched so many lives and will be missed,” the GoFundMe page says. “We ask everyone for thoughts and prayers as they support each other, their children and family during this loss.”

Family members who were outside the home Thursday morning declined comment. Bicycles, a swing set and other children’s toys were visible in the front yard.

Neighbors said they heard a commotion and saw police lights Wednesday night but did not know what happened.

River Oaks is in northwest Tarrant County, about five miles from Fort Worth.

Staff writer Megan Cardona contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 10:32 AM.