Bayli Knight

Those who loved Bayli Knight remember a shy, pretty young woman with a memorable smile and a sense of innocence. Her mother, Lisha Knight, and a close family friend, Dawn Coburn, recalled these qualities a year after Bayli’s death, painting a picture of a cherished daughter and friend. Bayli, a 28-year-old White / Caucasian woman, had done some modeling as a baby and was a near-daily presence in her mother’s life. Though she had faced some personal issues, her life was violently and inexplicably cut short, leaving her family with questions that haunt them to this day.

In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, October 29, 2016, Bayli was asleep inside a mobile home in a neighborhood near the 2200 block of East McDowell Road in Phoenix, Arizona. At approximately 5:15 a.m., an unknown assailant fired a gun, and a bullet struck Bayli. The Phoenix Police Department received an "unknown trouble" call after someone nearby reported an injured woman inside the trailer. When officers and emergency services arrived, they found Bayli with a critical gunshot wound. She was rushed to a local hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injury and was pronounced dead.

The Phoenix Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, with detectives trying to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The area of East McDowell Road where the crime occurred is a busy urban corridor, part of a community with a mix of residential and industrial properties, and has direct access to major freeways. In 2016, the city of Phoenix was working on revitalization efforts in nearby areas. However, for the police, the immediate challenge was the lack of credible information about the gunman.

In the absence of a clear motive or suspect, investigators turned to the public for help. The case was featured by Silent Witness, a local organization that allows community members to provide anonymous tips. Police released a description of a potential suspect: a Hispanic male, estimated to be 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 300 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. A reward of up to $1,000 was offered for any information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.

A year after the murder, on Halloween of 2017, Bayli’s mother Lisha and family friend Dawn Coburn held a press conference to make a public plea for justice. Lisha spoke of the profound, permanent change in her life since losing her daughter. "I know my life has changed forever because I know I'm never going to see her again," she said, noting that Bayli had a long life ahead of her and much more to contribute. Both women urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward. "Somebody knows something," Lisha pleaded. Coburn called the person who killed Bayli a "coward" and stressed that there must be consequences for the act.

As of the latest available reports from October 2017, no arrests have been made in connection with Bayli Knight's murder, and her killer remains at large. The case is an open and ongoing investigation. The family's call for help continues to echo, a painful reminder of a life taken too soon. "Don't forget her," Lisha Knight asked of the public. "Help her get justice, please." Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department or leave an anonymous tip with Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377).