'She Didn't Deserve It': Mother Of Slain Nurse Pleads For Help

A Nashville nurse was shot and killed last week as she drove to begin her shift at St. Thomas West Hospital, and police are still searching for a suspect.

Shortly before 9 p.m. on December 3, police found 26-year-old Caitlyn Kaufman deceased inside her SUV on the westbound side of Interstate 440. Originally thought to be a car crash, the officer noticed that multiple gunshots had been fired into the vehicle.

According to police, at least shots were fired at the car as she drove along the interstate around 6 p.m. Caitlyn was shot near her left shoulder, which a medical examiner determined killed her within 15 seconds.

Caitlyn's mother, Diane Kaufman, is devastated by the loss of her daughter, saying "she didn't deserve it." She said Caitlyn was living her dream working as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the Nashville hospital.

"Caitlyn was selfless, she was full of life, she lit up a room as soon as she walked into it," said Kaufman. "She had a contagious laugh. She had beautiful blue eyes. A heart of gold. She found the good."

On Monday, Kaufman issued a plea for anyone who knows what happened to her daughter to come forward and help provide closure.

"She was on her way to work to help other people," said Kaufman. "All I'm asking is that the Nashville community that she loved so much come together and help [find] who killed her."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Caitlyn's family with funeral expenses. As of Monday evening, it has raised over $16,000.

If anyone witnessed the incident or was driving along I-440 around the time of Caitlyn's murder, call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Photo: Getty Images