Tennessee – In a heartbreaking incident in Tennessee, a young child suffered fatal injuries while under the care of her aunt and the aunt’s boyfriend,

who are now facing serious criminal charges. The 21-year-old aunt, identified as K. Moore, 21,

and her 34-year-old boyfriend, identified as D. Smith, 34, have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect following the death of Moore’s 1-year-old niece.

The tragic sequence of events unfolded when police officers were called to a hospital around 3 a.m. on a Saturday. They arrived to find the baby in cardiac arrest, an alarmingly critical state that she unfortunately did not survive. An hour after her arrival at the hospital, the 1-year-old was declared dead. The medical examination revealed disturbing signs of abuse: multiple skull and neck fractures, large marks on her back, and other signs of physical trauma.

According to reports, the aunt and her boyfriend were babysitting the 1-year-old baby for two days. The couple began babysitting the girl at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, two days prior to the tragic incident. When questioned by the authorities, Moore and Smith provided conflicting statements, each blaming the other for the injuries that led to the girl’s death. Moore claimed she had left the child alone with Smith for a brief period, and, upon her return, found her niece unresponsive. Smith, on the other hand, accused Moore of physically assaulting the baby out of frustration because she was crying, alleging that she had slammed the child into the floor, furniture, and walls multiple times. According to reports, Smith told authorities he heard Moore slam the girl into the walls, floor, and wooden furniture six to 10 times.

Further examination of the 1-year-old baby’s body by medical professionals revealed bleeding in the brain, an injured kidney, elevated liver enzymes indicative of abdominal trauma, and blood in the lungs. These findings painted a grim picture of the violence the toddler endured in her final hours. Additionally, a search of the couple’s residence raised concerns about the child’s living conditions, noting the absence of baby food and a safe sleeping area for the baby.

The 1-year-old girl’s mother defended her sister in a series of emotional posts on social media, arguing that her sister was not responsible for the injuries. She clarified that what appeared to be injuries on her daughter’s back were actually birthmarks that had always been present. She attributed the hematochezia to the child’s severe constipation, noting that she had tried to alleviate this by applying Vaseline and feeding the child green vegetables to aid her digestion. The mother firmly placed the blame on Moore’s boyfriend, expressing her belief in her sister’s innocence. The police have not commented on these claims.

The community reacted with shock and sorrow to the news of the young girl’s violent death. Neighbors expressed their distress, with one remarking on the profound tragedy of a life so young being cut so short. According to court documents, Moore was also indicted on four counts of aggravated child abuse in February 2022. She was out on a $90,000 bond. Currently held without bond in jail, Moore and Smith face the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the charges against them. The legal process is ongoing, with further investigations and court proceedings expected to provide more details about the circumstances leading to this tragic event.