An 8-year old Alabama boy has been charged with the murder of a one-year-old baby. Police believe the baby was beaten because it wouldn't stop crying.
An eight-year-old Alabama boy has been arrested and charged with murder for killing a one-year-old baby who wouldn’t stop crying. Police have also arrested Katerra Lewis, 26, the mother of the murdered baby, and have charged her with second-degree manslaughter in the case.
The eight-year-old boy is the youngest person to ever be charged with murder in Jefferson County, Alabama. Lewis was arrested and charged with manslaughter after police found out that she had left her one-year-old daughter in the care of five other children while she went out to a local nightclub to party, reports Alabama.com. A 30-year veteran of the Birmingham, Ala. police force stated that it was the “most heartbreaking investigation” he has ever been involved with during his career.
The little girl, Kelci Lewis, was found by police in her crib at 10:45 a.m. and couldn’t be roused. She was rushed to the hospital and declared dead a short time later. Doctors say she was beaten, and died from blunt head trauma. Lewis and her daughter had been staying at that home for awhile until she was able to get housing for herself and young Kelci.
Birmingham police say that Lewis left the home along with her friend, who was the owner of the home, and both headed out to a night club. Supposedly the only people in the house after they left were children ages 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8. In addition to head trauma, young Kelci died from severe internal damage to her organs and police believe she was beaten to death by the eight-year-old when she wouldn’t stop crying.
The eight-year-old boy is currently in the custody of children’s services and his name will not be released to the media. Lewis surrendered to police and was charged on Monday with second degree manslaughter. She was released from police custody a short time later when she posted $15,000 bail.
Lewis’ grandmother is disputing the police account of what happened. She has come out publicly and said that Lewis was not so irresponsible as to leave six young children all by themselves. She believes that there was an adult at the house and believes the whole truth of this matter will come out soon.
