Homicide by child abuse charges have been filed against the parents of a 2-month-old girl who was found unresponsive inside a South Carolina home and allegedly died from severe abuse.
Following a 911 call about the infant that was made at around 1:11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, deputies and other first responders visited a home in Easley, where they started “rendering aid” to the newborn, according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
The infant was declared dead by EMS after attempts to save her, the sheriff’s office said in a Friday, March 13 news release.
An autopsy ultimately confirmed the baby’s death was a homicide, according to authorities.
The parents, Joshua Kyle Smith and Courtney Finch Smith, were arrested on March 13 on charges of homicide by child abuse, the sheriff’s office said.
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The baby was identified by a coroner as Cecilia Smith, who was found to have died as a result of blunt force trauma, meaning she was likely physically abused, according to WHNS.
It was not immediately clear whether Joshua or Courtney had retained attorneys who could speak on their behalf as of Monday, March 16.
They were both booked at the Pickens County Detention Center following their arrests, authorities said.
Joshua and Courtney have both been denied bond, according to officials, WHNS reported.
Authorities have not specified the exact injuries that led to the baby’s death.
The sheriff’s office noted on March 13 that “No additional information will be released at this time” and said, “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
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If a person is found guilty of homicide by child abuse in South Carolina, they could face 20 years to life in prison, according to South Carolina Criminal Law, a law firm based in Columbia.
To secure a conviction for the charge, a prosecutor must demonstrate, according to the law firm, that “The defendant’s actions or inaction directly caused the child’s death,” “the child is under eleven,” “the crime happened while the defendant was committing child abuse or neglect,” and that “the death happened due to circumstances showing an extreme indifference to human life.”
In a recent case of alleged child abuse, an Illinois man was charged with murder in the death of his 5-month-old son, who he had taken to a hospital with “severe” injuries in late February, according to police, Us Weekly previously reported.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
