From Law & Crime · · 3m
Mother and stepfather beat 9-year-old girl to death
New Jersey mother and stepfather jailed after allegedly beating 9-year-old to death and blaming injuries on hit-and-run driver.
In brief
New Jersey mother and stepfather jailed after allegedly beating 9-year-old to death and blaming injuries on hit-and-run driver. A New Jersey mother and stepfather are jailed for allegedly beating a 9-year-old girl to death and falsely claiming her injuries were from a hit-and-run vehicle. Originally reported by Law &…
New Jersey mother and stepfather jailed
A New Jersey mother and stepfather are behind bars after allegedly beating a 9-year-old girl to death and blaming her injuries on a hit-and-run driver, police say.
Alleged murder charges
India Miller, 27, and Sean Scott, 45, stand accused of murder, child endangerment and making a false report to police, according to the Paulsboro Police Department.
Investigation began
The investigation began during the early morning hours on Tuesday, Oct. 13, on a dark street in Paulsboro, a small town and part of the broader Philadelphia metro area.
911 call for help
At around 1 a.m., Scott called 911 to report that the girl had been hit by a car and was not breathing, according to court documents obtained by Philadelphia-based ABC affiliate WPVI.
911 dispatcher response
Sounds like CPR is in progress, a 911 dispatcher told responding officers, saying the 9-year-old may have been hit by a car and is now in cardiac arrest.
Miller's account
Miller allegedly told investigators that she thought she heard tires screeching while her daughter was walking the dog, police said.
Police report details
She heard a loud sound, similar to tires screeching, before Scott went outside and found the victim by their shed, according to a police report obtained by local NBC affiliate WCAU.
Hospital findings
After the girl was taken to a hospital, medical staff determined the child's injuries were not consistent with being hit by a vehicle, according to law enforcement.
Injuries observed
The hospital observed facial trauma, bruises all over the child's body and numerous broken ribs in various stages of healing, police said.
Autopsy results
An autopsy later showed the child's left eye was swollen shut, that her colon was ruptured and that she had abrasions on her inner thigh and intimate parts, according to law enforcement.
Time of death
The little girl was pronounced dead at 6:42 p.m. that same day. Her cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt-force injuries, according to police.
Evidence at home
Inside the family's residence, investigators found what looked like blood-covered children's clothes in a tub, on tile in the bathroom and on cleaning implements like a Swiffer WetJet, authorities say.
Surveillance footage
Additionally, surveillance footage showed no vehicle traffic on the street at the time the child was allegedly hit by a car, police said.
Child's account
In an interview, a 4-year-old sibling of the victim said Scott hit the girl in the eyes and face on the night in question, authorities say.
Current status
The defendants are currently detained in the Salem County Jail.
In short
A New Jersey mother and stepfather are jailed for allegedly beating a 9-year-old girl to death and falsely claiming her injuries were from a hit-and-run vehicle.
