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Two children aged 10 and 9 charged with rape and attempted murder of 5-year-old girl
Warning: This story contains very distressing details.
Two children from Cleveland, Ohio, aged 9 and 10, have been charged with several serious crimes after allegedly attacking a 5-year-old girl. The charges include attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation.
These charges were filed after the victim, found in a field near her home, showed signs of severe physical trauma.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that the two juveniles will be arraigned at a later date.
Details of the alleged assault
According to police, the 5-year-old girl went missing after being taken by a group of children. She was later found in a fetal position in a field near her home, her clothing discarded nearby.
Witnesses reported seeing the children take her to the location where she was attacked. Video footage, including Ring camera footage, was later recovered, further supporting the claims.
The victim's mother, Antavia Kennibrew, spoke publicly about the traumatic effect the assault has had on her daughter.
She described the injuries her daughter sustained, noting that her child was "unrecognizable" when she first saw her. "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," Kennibrew said.
Kennibrew, revealed to 3News that her daughter has "been affected mentally and physically by what was done with her, so just seeing how much she changed is hard." She added, "What was done to her was inhumane, so it made me think like there was no more human decency left."
Speaking to Cleveland 19, she went on to say: "What I saw was unbelievable," she continued. "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 in it."
Kennibrew shared more details on Facebook (in a post that has since been removed), writing: "My daughter is completely traumatized. I am completely traumatized. These kids broke my daughter's spirit. They literally tried to kill my daughter."
She also revealed her daughter is now in therapy, adding, "I want her to be somewhat of a normal five-year-old again."
Victim's recovery and ongoing investigation
Since the attack, the young girl has been hospitalized and is currently receiving therapy. Kennibrew expressed her desire for her daughter to regain some normalcy.
"I want her to be somewhat of a normal five-year-old again," she said. The Cleveland Police Department is continuing the investigation into the assault, although they have not released further details to protect the privacy of those involved.
The case has sparked concern about juvenile offenses and the impact such violent acts can have on both victims and communities. As the investigation continues, the community remains focused on supporting the victim and seeking justice for the horrifying attack.