A 5-year-old Ohio girl was rushed to the hospital after being brutally beaten by two older children who reportedly sexually assaulted her. The suspects, ages 9 and 10, were charged in Cleveland, where the little girl was attacked outside a relative’s home.
According to the child’s mother, Antavia Kennibrew, her daughter was attacked moments after she dropped her off at a relative’s home on September 13. The little girl managed to get outside through the front door. While outside, she encountered two children who viciously attacked her.
During the attack, the victim was beaten, and a portion of her braided hair was ripped from her scalp. Kennibrew said she was later notified and rushed to the scene. When she arrived, she found emergency responders treating her daughter, who was multiple blocks away from the relative’s house.
The distressed mother expressed her shock to find her daughter in such an “unbelievable” state. “What I saw was unbelievable. My daughter was not my daughter. Her hair was scalped from her head,” Kennibrew told reporters. She also added that her daughter was covered in bruises and blood.
“Her eyes were filled with blood. Her lips and mouth were filled with blood. Her nails had debris and dirt stuck in them,” the mother continued in tears.
According to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, the young suspects are facing multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation. The disturbing case has shocked the Cleveland community, not only because of the level of violence but also because of the ages of those involved.
Because of how delicate the situation is and the fact that the suspects are both minors, authorities have chosen not to share additional information about what happened during the attack. However, they confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Kennibrew said the attack has left her daughter deeply traumatised. While her daughter’s physical wounds are slowly healing, the emotional and mental scars will take much longer to fade. The child is now receiving therapy to help her recover.
“I want her to just be somewhat of a normal 5-year-old again,” she said.
