The mother of a 6-year-old New York girl who died in the Bronx has been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Lynija Eason was arrested on Saturday and charged with 2 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. That charge could be upgraded if the medical examiner rules her daughter’s death a homicide.
This comes as the death of the young girl remains under investigation.
Police say Jalayah Eason died Friday after she arrived at the hospital with bruising all over her body. An autopsy will determine her cause of death.
Eason’s mother called 911 just after 4 a.m., reporting the injuries.
Police responded to the Forest Houses on East 165th Street in Morrisania and found the child unconscious in her mother’s bedroom.
Authorities say she had bruising and trauma on her wrists and torso.
Paramedics rushed Jalaeyah to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
When officers entered the apartment, they also found an 8-year-boy and 3-year-old girl, who police say each had signs of bruising and ligature marks indicating restraints. The 8-year-old told police his mother had hit him in the past.
The girl had been living in a squalid 12th floor apartment that was filthy and filled with clothes and other belongings thrown about.
A downstairs neighbor said she often heard crying from the apartment above.
Two other children, an 8-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl, have been removed from the household by ACS. The other children also appeared to have older injuries.
The investigation into the death is ongoing.
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