On Tuesday, a Kentucky grand jury indicted a woman for murdering her 17-month-old daughter, who reportedly died in July after she was sexually abused.
Erica Lawson, 21, was initially arrested on manslaughter charges following the July 30 death of her daughter, Elena. WBIR reported that Middlesboro police said they were using DNA to identify additional suspects in this case.
According to the news outlet, the slain toddler’s uncle went to police about burns on her weeks before her death. However, the uncle and police did not know her whereabouts at the time.
Bell County prosecutors said Elena, who died after being placed on life support, had signs of physical and sexual abuse. WRIL reported that the toddler had been beaten and raped.
“The mother and father were not together. The father is not a suspect at this time, but that could change,” explained Caley Ayers, who is with Middlesboro police.
According to WRIL, Elena was placed on a respirator before she was deemed brain dead from the abuse she suffered.
Lawson was charged with murder, failure to report child abuse or neglect, criminal abuse, and wanton endangerment. She is due in court on November 6.
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[Featured image: Erica Lawson/Bell County Sheriff’s Office; WBIR]
