In Florida, 9-year-old Dericka Lindsay has died after her 325-pound cousin sat on her as punishment, even as the child complained she could not breathe. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office said Lindsay was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon after officers received a cardiac arrest call at a Pensacola home.
Lindsay's mother, the 69-year-old Grace Joan Smith, told police she called her niece, 64-year-old Veronica Green Posey, over to her house to help discipline the girl. She said Posey allegedly struck Dericka with a metal pipe and a ruler before sitting on the child. Lindsay's father, a 62-year-old James Edmund Smith, said Posey was sitting on his daughter for about 10 minutes before she started complaining of breathing problems. He said Posey remained seated on the child for another two minutes before she got up.
When police responded to the home, they found Lindsay unresponsive. She was rushed to Baptist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to the arrest report, the child said she could not breathe, and after standing up Posey noticed Dericka was unresponsive. Posey said she called 911 and then started CPR. Posey told police she sat on Lindsay "for being out of control." She later told deputies she weighed 325 pounds.
Posey was arrested and charged with homicide and cruelty toward a child. Lindsay's mother and father were also arrested and charged with child neglect for failing to report the abuse.
Posey was taken to Escambia County Jail on $125,000 bond. Jail records show she was released on Monday. Grace's bond was set for $75,000, and she was also released on Monday. James remains in jail on a $50,000 bond.
The Florida Department of Children and Families called the death "appalling" and told Pensacola News Journal the family had a prior incident in the past.
Source: nydailynews.com
