Police say an 8-year-old boy beat a 1-year-old girl to death after the girl’s mother left the children without supervision, reports CBS affiliate WIAT. Many other children, ranging from ages 2 to 8, were also dropped off at the home without an adult caretaker to watch them.
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Police said the baby girl was left alone with five other children, ages 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 in a home Lewis was sharing while she waited for Section 8 housing. “The 1-year-old suffered from severe head trauma as well as major internal organ damage with ultimately led to her death”.
This photo provided by the Birmingham Police Department shows a police mug shot of Katerra Lewis, 26, of Birmingham, who was arrested on a murder charge, Tuesday, November 10, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala.
Once she was taken to the hospital, the baby was pronounced dead and an autopsy performed.
Katerra Lewis was also charged with manslaughter. After being examined by the Jefferson County Coroner, her death was ruled a homicide, police announved the day after her death.
The 8-year-old charged with the baby’s murder is in custody of DHR, according to the Birmingham Police Department.
Authorities have said there were visible injuries to the girl. The mother of the one year old left the house to go to the nightclub with her friend, the homeowner.
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Edwards said Katerra Lewis has been cooperative, and he thinks the reality of her choice on that night is starting to set in. Family and friends lit candles and held balloons to remember the child. “Katerra is not the type of parent that they are trying to portray her as, ” Callens said. “Never judge a book by its cover, which means don’t try to judge from the outside”. “We know the truth, and we got nothing to hide”.
