The heartbroken father of a middle school cheerleader who was stabbed to death with a pocket knife revealed how he led cops to her body by tracking her location on an app.

Michael Copeland spoke out following the brutal murder of his 13-year-old daughter Savannah Copeland three weeks ago.

The Tennessee dad recounted how he began to panic after his daughter vanished from her Powell home overnight and did not get in touch for several hours.

Using the Life360 app he was able to track her location, which led investigators to make the grim discovery on a dirt trail not far away.

The grieving dad admitted there is, ‘there’s not a lot of joy or genuine happiness’ in his life right now, but chose to share a message of sympathy rather than hate.

‘I think it was a lack of compassion a lack of empathy that took my daughter’s life,’ he told Fox19. 

‘I’m not going to allow to be filled with that kind of rage, it’s going to be filled with compassion – it’s the only way I know how to defeat evil.’    

Police have charged 15-year-old Malakiah Harris with the ‘senseless’ murder.

Copeland told how his suspicions first became raised when he did not hear from his daughter for several hours after she went missing from her Powell home over night.

A memorial has since been set up at the spot where the Powell Middle Schooler’s body was found.

Her cheerleading team has also revealed it will be handing out an annual award in honor of the late teen which will be given to those who exemplify the teen’s character.

‘Spunkiness, eagerness and kind a go-getter attitude I guess you can say,’ Copeland explained, adding that he was grateful to see his daughter’s memory will live on.

‘It helps to restore my faith in God and everyone around us,’ he added.

Savannah’s body was discovered on a dirt trail behind a community pool in Powell, just outside Knoxville a day after she disappeared.

She had been stabbed to death multiple times with a pocket knife by a suspect she met with the night before she was found.

Police arrested and charged Harris with second degree murder in connection to the death. He is due in court next on January 15.

Investigators have not released any motive or explained the relationship between the two at this stage.

 Copeland is survived by her parents, as well as her twin brother and another brother. 

‘Her beautiful smile lit up the room,’ the family wrote in her obituary.

‘She loved her family, she loved her friends, and she loved art. Savannah attended Powell Middle School and was a talented student as well as an accomplished athlete—excelling in gymnastics, karate, and cheerleading.’

The notice described her as an aspiring forensic anthropologist who had set her  sights on attended the University of Tennessee.

‘She enjoyed scary stories, drawing, and pop music,’ the obituary added, explaining she and her family have been longtime members of the Powell United Methodist Church.

‘Savannah will be forever missed by everyone who knew her and loved her,’ the statement added.