Beating the toddler to death
A mother and her boyfriend were present in the court to face the assault for beating a 4-year toddler to death.
Aniya Day-Garrett was an adorable, vibrant girl. But sadly, the one who was supposed to protect her was the one who ended her life.
Fatal stroke
The toddler, Aniya suffered a fatal stroke. Medical professionals say it was caused by repeated blows to the head.
Sierra Day, 23, and Deonte Lewis, 26, both from Euclid, have been assaulted for the aggravated murder of the 4-year-old.
You killed my f***ing child! You hurt my baby.’
Their presence made the biological father, Mickhal Garrett outburst furiously.
A judge set the couple’s bonds at $1million each.
As they were being led out of the courtroom, Mickhal Garrett jumped to his feet and screamed in agony: ‘You killed my f***ing child! You hurt my baby.’
Heartbroken
Mickhal was so sad and heartbroken, sobbing, into the arms of his family members who were with him to the hearing.
Police said paramedics were called to the Cultural Garden Apartments on Lakeshore Boulevard in Euclid at around 11.30am on Sunday.
There they saw a child with burn marks who was unresponsive. Fire officials said there was no fire at the complex.
Homicide
Aniya was rushed to Euclid Hospital hospital, where she died of a stroke. The staff reported her death to police as a suspected homicide.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office later found that the toddler suffered blunt impacts to her head.
She was also was malnourished, reported Fox8. It was confirmed homicide.
Custody
Mickhal said he had been fighting to gain custody of his daughter, Aniya and made repeated complaints accusing Aniya’s mother and her boyfriend of harming and abusing the child.
The girl’s paternal grandmother, Rachael Garrett, told Cleveland.com that from some months the family noticed bruises, black eyes and rug burns on the child’s body.
Child services
She says she raised concerns about child services. Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services have confirmed that they conducted three separate investigations into claimed that it was neglected last year. But the agency concluded that there was not enough evidence to remove the child from her mother, Sierra Day’s home.
Donations for funeral
Day was scheduled to meet with a social worker on Monday to discuss Mickhal Garrett’s petition for an emergency custody. A GoFundMe account has been launched asking for donations to help with 4-year-old Aniya’s funeral expenses. It has raised more than $2,600 till now.
