JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a Jacksonville woman says she was excited about becoming a mother and couldn’t wait to celebrate her son’s first birthday.
But before that day arrived, Kayla Freeland was found shot and killed in her Arlington apartment.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation into her death. And Freeland’s mother, Sha'ron Gould is urging anyone with information to break the code of silence and come forward.
On Feb. 6, Freeland’s boyfriend called police reporting he came home to find her dead in their apartment in the Arlington Village complex. Also found in the home was Freeland’s son Daryl, who celebrated his first birthday a day later -- without his mother.
Gould says she’s dreading the day she’ll have to tell her grandson the truth about his mother’s death.
“The dates are so close together between his birthday and her demise,” said Gould. “I probably won't even tell him the date. I'll just let him have as many happy birthdays as he can without even putting that on him."
Her eyes are heavy, her heart as well, but Gould, a mother of two, has some peace as she remembers the last time she saw her daughter -- two days before she was found dead.
"She was like, 'I love you mom, I love you,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever,' and I was laughing at her driving off," said Gould.
Freeland, 20 is described as a fun, lively person. She recently went back to school and was studying to save lives, as a paramedic.
Gould, a paramedic and firefighter herself, was not able to save her youngest child but is determined to forever watch over Freeland’s little one left behind.
"If there are children left behind, then you step in and you get them the best education or whatever you can give to take them out of any circumstances they may be in that maybe your child was in that you couldn't control," said Gould.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the person responsible for Freeland’s death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with Kayla Freeland's final arrangements and to care for her son.