Ohio girl, 11, accused of murder in death of 2-month-old

Police say the child showed no remorse over her alleged actions

(Associated Press)

An 11-year-old girl from Ohio has been charged with the murder of a 2-month-old after police say the child beat the infant to death while she was staying with the accused girl and her mother.

All three were on a couch at the mother’s house when the woman fell asleep around 3 am on Friday, according to a report from the Associated Press. The girl allegedly took the infant, Zuri Whitehead, upstairs and when she returned downstairs the Zuri’s head was swollen and she was bleeding.

Police say the mother immediately called 911 upon seeing the injuries and Zuri was taken to the children’s trauma centre in Cleveland, where she died. Police say the girl has shown no remorse for what she is alleged to have done.

The judge in the case has entered a plea of not guilty at a Monday hearing and the girl has been ordered to have a competency hearing. Regardless of the outcome of the case, the girl cannot be tried as an adult in the state of Ohio, which requires suspects to be at least 14 years of age to stand trial as an adult.

The 11-year-old is the youngest child to be accused of murder in Ohio in recent memory, according to the AP. If she is convicted, she could be sentenced to a juvenile detention facility until she is 21.

The infant’s mother has three older children and the accused girl’s mother reportedly told the woman she would watch Zuri to give her a rest.

Follow Payton Guion on Twitter @PaytonGuion.