Prosecutors in Florida have charged a 14-year-old girl as an adult with manslaughter in the death of her 80-year-old grandmother.
According to a press release by the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, Sofia Koval allegedly beat Yevheniia Koval with a belt and a walker inside a Lauderdale Lakes condo.
“Because of the heinous nature of the crime and after considering everything presented by the defense so far, I believe it is appropriate that this case should be handled in adult court,” Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said in the press release.
“We are considering all options and working closely with her attorneys at the Broward Public Defender’s Office to come up with an appropriate resolution that holds her accountable but also factors in her age and the circumstances of this offense.”
Broward County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the condo at around 12:30 a.m. on May 23. The son said he found his mother unresponsive on the living room floor. She later passed away at an area hospital, NBC South Florida reports.
An autopsy indicated that she had around 15 abrasions on her neck and face, bruising on her hands, arms, and leg, and hemorrhaging on the right side of her neck and arms. The report also noted scalp contusions, scalp hemorrhaging, and brain bleeding
The son said he lived with his mother and the defendant, who had recently moved to Florida from Ukraine. He said his daughter had been experiencing behavioral issues, which he believed stemmed from the war in Ukraine and her separation from her mother.
Before the incident, he took his daughter’s cellphone away as discipline before leaving the home at 7 p.m., leaving her and the victim alone in the home. When he returned at 12:30 a.m., he found his mother unresponsive.
When he asked his daughter what had happened, she allegedly told him that her grandmother had scratched her, the affidavit said.
The victim relied on a walker, which had a broken wheel, leading investigators to suspect the girl used it to strike her grandmother. Police also found a belt near the body.
In custody, Sofia Koval allegedly said her grandmother “was already dying, and she helped her die,” the affidavit read.
The teen showed signs of agitation, aggression, and possible psychosis. She reportedly had not been eating or sleeping, investigators noted. Based on this and her statements, she was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
On the way to the hospital, Koval allegedly admitted to killing her grandmother and striking the vehicle partition, injuring her hand.
Later, prosecutors filed manslaughter charges against her, and moved her to adult jail in Broward County.
If convicted, she could face 15 years behind bars.
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[Featured image:Sofia Koval /Broward County Sheriff’s Office]
