A 9-year-old Alabama girl was criminally charged for allegedly using a broomstick to beat her 4-year-old brother, who later died.
Mobile police responded to a home on Thursday following reports of a medical emergency. Responding officers found an unresponsive 4-year-old boy who paramedics pronounced dead at the scene, according to AL.com.
On Monday, the Mobile County District Attorney’s office confirmed to AL.com that the boy’s 9-year-old sister was charged with first-degree assault. Court documents alleged that the girl beat her younger brother with a broomstick before his death.
The children’s aunt, Yolanda Coale, 53, was arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated child abuse. According to WALA, Coale told police that she was woken up by screaming and found her niece beating her nephew.
Reports indicated that Coale was the children’s caregiver. According to court documents, authorities discovered evidence of long-term abuse, including a history of abuse where Thursday’s incident occurred.
Mobile police said Coale may face additional charges depending on what her nephew’s autopsy uncovers. Her bond was set at $150,000.
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[Featured image: Yolanda Coale/Mobile Police Department]
