Cleveland, Ohio, authorities have charged two children—a nine-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl—following a brutal assault on a five-year-old girl last month that left her severely injured, according to local officials and the child’s mother.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Wednesday that the young suspects face multiple charges, including four counts of rape, one count of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, one count of kidnapping and one count of strangulation.
Both children were charged as juveniles, and all proceedings will be closed to the public due to their ages, the New York Post reports.
Authorities have released limited information because of the case’s sensitive nature.
The child’s mother described the horrifying scene when she found her daughter.
“What I saw was unbelievable. My daughter was not my daughter. Her hair was scalped from her head. She had bruises and blood all over her body. Her eyes were filled with blood. Her lips and mouth were filled with blood. Her nails had debris and dirt stuck in it,” she told WOIO.
The five-year-old victim was discovered unresponsive in a field less than a quarter-mile from the home where she had been left in the care of a family member.
She was transported to a hospital and remained under treatment for about a week.
Her mother said the girl is still traumatized and struggling with physical and emotional recovery.
“She was screaming when she woke up, she said, ‘They killed me.’ She thought she was dead,” the mother said.
Evidence collected at the scene included the child’s clothing and video footage from nearby security cameras.
Investigators continue gathering additional material. The identities of the accused children have not been released due to their age.
Legal experts note the rarity of prosecuting children this young in Ohio.
Michael Benza, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, said the state does not have a strict minimum age for criminal prosecution, but it is uncommon for children under 12 to face charges for violent crimes.
He also highlighted the challenges in assessing whether the suspects are competent to participate in their defense.
“How are they going to understand what’s going on in the courtroom? They’re nine. That’s going to be really difficult,” Benza told WKYC.
The case also raises potential questions of civil liability.
Families affected by juvenile crimes occasionally pursue lawsuits against the guardians of the accused.
“There certainly could be issues of civil liability—that is, the family of the child could bring a civil lawsuit against the defending children and their parents,” Benza explained.
Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activity involving children to prevent similar tragedies.
Both juveniles are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks. Prosecutors are continuing their investigation into the assault.
The victim’s mother emphasized the ongoing impact of the attack on her daughter’s life.
“I want her to just be somewhat of a normal 5-year-old again,” she said.
The family continues to focus on recovery and healing as the legal process unfolds.
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