A mother faces murder charges in the beating death of her young daughter.
Investigators say Josephita Brown took her 4-year-old daughter to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia shortly before 2 a.m. on Tuesday, claiming the girl was sick and had a bad case of diarrhea.
The girl, identified as Seanita Brown, was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police say the girl suffered abdominal blunt force trauma and a lacerated liver. Investigators say there was old and new bruising on the girl’s body and bleeding in several places, including both ears.
Josephita Brown, 24, who lives on the 220 block of S 56th Street in Southwest Philadelphia was arraigned early Friday morning on murder and child endangerment charges, according to court records.
Investigators say the victim’s mother and a male resident, likely her boyfriend, living at a home on the 2200 block of S 56th Street were both taken into custody and questioned by the Special Victims Unit earlier this week.
They both denied ever abusing the girl.
Brown's boyfriend wasn't charged.
Brown has two other children. Her 6-year-old currently lives with a relative and her 11-month-old boy was taken from the same address and is currently staying with DHS.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Neighbors say the couple had just moved into the home about three months ago and always kept to themselves. Angie Foglio, who lives a few doors down from them, says she was stunned when she learned the young girl had passed away.
"It's very, very sad," she said. "I feel bad for the child."
