Erie High senior was supposed to graduate Saturday. Her mom is charged with killing her (2024)

Victim, Natavia Sanders, 18, had been studying remotely and living in Tampa but was scheduled to get Erie High diploma. Her mom is charged with strangling her in case of first-degree murder.

When Erie High School students graduated on Saturday, the name of fellow senior Natavia Sanders did not appear in the commencement program.

But the pronouncement of her name was marked not with the awarding of a diploma in person.

A tragedy forced Sanders' absence.

The 18-year-old was killed more than three weeks ago in Tampa, Florida, where police have charged her mother with strangling her inside their residence on May 11, police said. The defense is contending the mother is mentally unstable.

Sanders since ninth grade had been a student in the Erie School District's Cyber Choice Academy, according to the district. The district said completion of the program led to the awarding of an Erie High diploma to her.

Though Sanders was absent, her name was read at the Erie High commencement ceremony Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, according to Erie School District policy.

'She was always happy,' principal says

"An absolute joy, an absolute shining light," is how Andrea Gloystein remembers Sanders.

Gloystein is the principal of Erie's Strong Vincent Middle School, which Sanders attended starting in 2017-18, the academic year that marked the school's transition from a high school to a middle school.

Sanders bounded up the steps to Strong Vincent every day, Gloystein said. She said Sanders, who attended Harding and Grover Cleveland elementary schools before entering middle school, was a cheerleader for Strong Vincent sports and had an ebullience that also filled the classroom. Gloystein said Sanders was known for her enthusiasm and pleasant personality at the middle school, which then had 780 students.

"I can't remember a day when she didn't come into Strong Vincent with a smile on her face," Gloystein said. "She was always happy."

Gloystein had a picture of Sanders at her desk for years. She said she put it there after Sanders was honored as one of the first Strong Vincent Middle School students to earn enough good behavior points to become "principal for the day." Sanders took over for Gloystein, answering phones and helping others in the office.

"She came in all dressed up that day," Gloystein said. "That is one of my fondest memories of her."

"I am just crushed," Gloystein said of Sanders' death.

The Davis-Garr funeral home is Erie is handling arrangements for Sanders. The service is private, according to an obituary notice.

Mother of victim is charged with premeditated murder

Sanders' mother, Rotesha B. Silveus, 38, was charged on May 24 with first-degree murder, a premeditated homicide, according to the criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause.

Tampa police initially charged Silveus with aggravated battery, but changed the charge to murder after Sanders was pronounced dead on May 13 at Tampa General Hospital.

Sanders had been admitted to the hospital in critical condition on May 11 and was soon determined to be brain dead, according to the affidavit of probable case. The death was ruled a homicide related to "mechanical asphyxia," according to the affidavit.

Sanders is the third Erie native to have been killed recently in Florida after moving there.

In November 2021, the dismembered remains of 47-year-old Stephanie Crone-Overholts were found in an inlet in Tampa Bay in a case that is scheduled for trial in mid-June. In April, 49-year-old Timothy Pustelak was found stabbed to death in his apartment in St. Petersburg in a case in which the defendant's next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Defense says defendant 'suffers from mental health issues'

In Sanders' case, Silveus is being held in jail without bond, according to court records. She is to undergo a psychiatric exam, with a hearing on the report scheduled for June 26, according an order a judge issued on Thursday.

The judge ordered the psychiatric exam at the request of Silveus' public defender. The lawyer requested an exam based on the defense's "good-faith belief that the Defendant suffers from mental health issues," according to a motion filed Wednesday.

The motion does not detail the nature of the suspected mental issues, but states that "under the circ*mstances, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Defendant is not mentally competent to proceed." The psychiatric exam is meant to help determine whether Silveus is mentally competent to have her case advance in court — whether she is capable of understanding the charges against her and assisting in her defense.

Police say 911 call from victim spurred probe

Tampa police started investigating shortly after 6:05 a.m. on May 11. That's when Sanders called 911 and reported that she had "just woke up from being passed out" and that her mother had tried to strangle her, according to the criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause.

Sanders said that her mother was outside her room, and then the call was disconnected, according to the affidavit.

Patrol officers arrived at the residence, in the 1900 block of East 23rd Avenue, at 6:19 a.m. According to the affidavit, the front and back doors were locked, and officers knocked on the doors for about six minutes until Silveus answered.

The officers asked Silveus to step outside, and she said, "For what? Nah," and tried to close the door, according to the affidavit. It states that officers blocked the door with their feet, got into the apartment and handcuffed Silveus after she resisted arrest.

The officers found Sanders unresponsive on her back in the kitchen, according to the affidavit. They performed CPR and called for an ambulance, which drove Sanders to the hospital.

Police chief: 'This is a heartbreaking case'

Three children, 9, 5 and 3 years old, were inside the residence. The 9-year-old told police that, during the incident, she heard Sanders calling her name as if she needed help, according to the affidavit.

"The witness came downstairs and observed the defendant on top of the victim," according to the affidavit. "The witness further went on to say the victim appeared not to be breathing and the defendant had her hands over the victim's mouth."

The Tampa police said the three children have been placed with family.

The Tampa police on Tuesday announced the filing of the murder charge against Silveus.

"This is a heartbreaking case,"Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement."Our deepest condolences go out to all those who knew and loved Natavia. The hard work of our detectives is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring justice is served in this matter."

Contact Ed Palattella atepalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X@ETNpalattella.