COLUMBIA, S.C. — Just over a week after Sanaa Amenhotep's murderers were sentenced to decades in prison for her murder, Sanaa's mother spoke in the Richland County Sheriff's Department headquarters about the trial, the sentencing, and her next steps.
For Saleemah Graham-Fleming, the last two weeks have been full of healing, acceptance, and prayer. Her daughter, Sanaa Amenhotep, was kidnapped, killed, and buried in April 2021 by three people she considered her friends.
In May of this year, all three killers were found guilty of their crimes, and on Aug. 29, two of her killers were sentenced to 65 years and another to 60 years in prison for the crimes. Nicolle Sanchez-Peralta was one of three suspects charged with killing Amenhotep in April 2021. The other two, Treveon Nelson and Jaylen Wilson, chose not to go to trial, with Nelson and Wilson pleading guilty in August. Sanchez-Peralta was sentenced to 65 years; the other two will serve 60 years.
"I think that was our prayer. It wasn't about celebrating the demise of three other people. It was about justice, and accountability, which is something that's been missing among our young people and our communities," Graham-Fleming said.
According to law enforcement, Amenhotep, who was just 15 years old, was lured by the trio out of her home. Graham-Fleming says she was beaten and then buried, wrapped in a blanket from their home.
It's a crime she's had to process for years, and she added that she's working through the healing process and trying to forgive those three.
"I was so mad with myself. I was so mad, I was so mad. You know why I was mad? Because I actually felt sorry for those kids. Because I felt like I was betraying my daughter," Graham-Fleming said. "And I thank God for his spirit because I was quickly reminded I'm not just Sanaa's mother. I'm a mother. So I can never celebrate the demise of young people."
Graham-Fleming took time on Thursday to reflect on her daughter's life and give an update on her recovery.
"I'm here. And that's the message I want tp to send to grieving parents in my position ... Survive, survive, survive, survive." Graham-Fleming said. "I've had everything from butterflies resting on my hand to, right after sentencing, there was this collection of birds just 'chirp, chirp chirp chirp chirp' as I was leaving the courtroom. I'm like, 'She's here.' Or I can sometimes just smell her."
Graham-Fleming says her focus is now on preventing violence in all communities and using her daughter's story to change lives. "I know firsthand you don't have to make those outlandish decisions. But I also know that if you don't have that support, and I'm not suggesting that they didn't, but's easier to make the right decision when you don't feel like you have that."