Memphis police are trying to get to the bottom of an alleged child abuse case that left a one-year-old dead. However, the suspects in question are playing the blame game as to what really happened.
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Memphis police officers say they responded to a call about a baby girl who was in Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital suffering from cardiac arrest. The doctors found the child had an alarming number of life-threatening injuries which raised suspicions on whether she was assaulted. Their report cited skull fractures, a brain bleed, a bruised kidney, lungs filled with blood, a large bruise on her back and a spike in enzymes in her liver consistent with abdominal trauma, per Action News 5. An hour after police received the call, about 4 a.m., the girl was pronounced dead.
Investigators immediately identified Kali’s mother, Kiya Moore, and her boyfriend, Dejon Smith, as persons of interest, the report says. Upon searching their home, authorities found a lack of baby food and no proper place for the baby to sleep, investigators wrote in an affidavit.
When police brought the couple in for questioning, the two left the cops with even more questions.
Interviews revealed the girl’s mother who is also Moore’s sister, allowed the two to babysit Kali for two days prior to her death. Moore told police she left the residence that evening and left Kali with Smith. However, when she returned, Kali was unresponsive. Moore told police Smith refused to tell her what happened. Instead, she claimed he urged her to give a fabricated story to the police that Kali fell asleep on their bed and fell, hitting her head on the nightstand, per the affidavit. Moore told police she then called a family member to take the girl to the hospital.
On the other hand, Smith told the police he heard Moore yelling at the child in a backroom as she cried. He then alleged he heard Moore slam the girl on the floor, walls and furniture, noting 6-10 loud bangs. Smith then told officers he attempted to administer CPR to the girl and throw cold water on her until ultimately Moore called a relative to transport the baby to the hospital.
Jail records show both Moore and Smith were charged with first-degree murdr, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect.