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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
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Teen Found Dead in Gerritsen Beach Dreamed of Becoming a Nurse, Family Says

By Trevor Kapp | January 9, 2013 11:45am

FLATLANDS — The missing 14-year-old girl who was found dead with burns on her naked body early Sunday dreamed of becoming a nurse, devastated relatives told DNAinfo.com New York.

Shaniesha Forbes' body was discovered near Gerritsen and Lois avenues in Gerritsen Beach Sunday, sources said. Authorities identified the teen, who went missing last week, Tuesday afternoon.

Loved ones Wednesday said the teenager, a student at the Academy of Young Writers in East New York, was "loving" and trustworthy.

“She was a very loving girl,” said Shaniesha's mother through a cracked door at the family's Flatlands home. "She trusted everyone."

Overwhelmed with emotion, the mom, who declined to give her name, closed the door shortly thereafter.

Shaniesha was discovered with burns to her arms, hands and legs, sources said. The burns did not appear to have killed the girl, but the medical examiner was still conducting tests, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Shaniesha was last seen about 8 a.m. Friday before she left for school. Her family later reported her missing but told cops said that she had disappeared from home several times before, sources said.

Police, therefore, did not issue a missing persons bulletin.

The NYPD was said Wednesday there were no developments in the investigation.

Shaniesha's grandmother said the girl was smart and aspired to become a nurse.

“She was a very good girl, a very nice, intelligent girl,” said grandmother Daisy Smith, 69.

Heartbroken teenagers took to Facebook to mourn Shaniesha's sudden death.

“I'll never forget you shaniesha thanks for being a friend,” wrote Jonathan Chino.

Another friend wrote that the girl's life was cut short.

“She was robbed of her HighSchool experiences nd [sic] the rest of her future,” posted Brandon Serrano.