The Ohio mother of a 5-year-old girl who was allegedly raped, beaten, and strangled by two other children pleaded with a judge on Wednesday not to show leniency to the young defendants.
Antavia Kennibrew, whose daughter was brutalized in September, told the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, “This type of behavior doesn’t deserve grace,” according to Cleveland.com. She argued that her daughter’s ongoing trauma should be mirrored by the consequences faced by the offenders, saying, “And that’s how it should be for the offenders.”
The Defendants: A 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy are charged with attempted murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, and strangulation.
Court Attendance: The 10-year-old girl was present but refused to speak, with her parents reportedly skipping the proceeding. Her public defender denied the charges on her behalf. The 9-year-old boy missed his court appearance due to alleged car troubles.
Mother’s Accusation: Kennibrew told CBS affiliate WOIO that the children “knew what they were doing” and “even played after not caring about my baby.”
Judge’s Action: The 10-year-old was placed on home detention with an ankle monitor. The judge also requested a competency evaluation for the 10-year-old, citing “significant concerns” about her ability to understand the charges. The 9-year-old’s arraignment was rescheduled for next week.
According to prosecutors and Kennibrew’s account, the victim was allegedly lured away from a family member’s home and taken to a field where she was attacked. Kennibrew said her daughter’s hair was “scalped,” she was beaten until unconscious, raped, and strangled with her own shirt.
Kennibrew has previously stated on social media that her daughter was attacked by “multiple children under the age of 10,” and the Cleveland Division of Police confirmed their Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit was actively probing the incident. However, only the two defendants are currently facing charges.
Kennibrew stressed the lasting damage, stating her daughter “did not look like herself” after the incident and is currently undergoing therapy. “I need justice for my daughter,” she wrote on Facebook.
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