TYLER, TEXAS: Friends and loved ones of Dejah Hood are coming together to honor her memory, focusing on the vibrant and kind person she was rather than the tragic circumstances of her passing.
Hood, was just 18 years old when she was beaten, strangled, and ultimately stabbed to death in a "fit of rage" by her friend, 19-year-old Jamaurea Jermain Britton.
Close friend Sara Evans described their bond as more akin to sisters than best friends.
“It hurt my heart, it did, it hurt my heart that she had to sit there and suffer,” said Evans. “She’s like a mom. She has a mom mentality like 100%. She cared for everybody, she loved everybody.”
What prompted an investigation into Dejah Hood's disappearance?
Dejah Hood, a student at John Tyler High School, was reported missing when she didn't return home or respond to calls and texts after a night out with friends, including Britton.
Worried family members promptly contacted the authorities, setting in motion a harrowing investigation into her disappearance.
When officers arrived at Britton's apartment for questioning, they uncovered disturbing traces of blood within the residence.
The devastating truth became apparent when they discovered Hood's lifeless body concealed in trash bags, bound with tape, and wrapped in a bedsheet in a creek bed near the Hollytree Apartments complex.
Britton, confronted with the evidence against him, eventually admitted to the murder, providing a chilling account of the events leading up to the tragedy.
Britton confessed that he had picked up Hood, who was babysitting a one-year-old child, from her apartment to assist with his move.
What led to the tragic killing of Dejah Hood?
However, the emotional turmoil stemming from a recent breakup with his girlfriend took a dark turn when Hood "playfully tugged on his ear," reminiscent of his ex-girlfriend's actions.
This seemingly innocuous gesture triggered a sudden "fit of rage."
In the heat of the moment, Britton struck Hood with a glass bottle, causing her to collapse.
He then proceeded to physically assault and strangle her before resorting to a hammer, relentlessly striking her head until the handle broke.
The horrifying sequence of events took another disturbing turn when Britton attempted to take his own life using a knife but ultimately failed.
Later, he brandished a gun, which he had acquired earlier on that fateful day, threatening self-harm when a concerned neighbor knocked on his door.
Britton temporarily concealed the heinous crime, reassuring the neighbor that everything was fine.
However, upon hearing Hood calling his name upon his return home, he allegedly realized she was still alive and brutally stabbed her multiple times, ending her life.
Another friend LaMonica Hull said, "From what I know, she was there to comfort him because he didn't have anybody to talk to about things."
“He didn’t just hurt her, but he hurt a lot of people,” said Evans, as per KETK.
Britton now faces charges of murder and terroristic threats to his family/household. He is being held in the Smith County Jail on a bond of $1.05 million.
