CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Chattanooga woman and a teenage boy face charges after police said a 3-year-old in their care drowned and a 1-year-old showed signs of “significant abuse.”
Police said the 17-year-old admitted to abusing both children, while the children’s mother, 21-year-old Janecia McKevie, confessed she knew about the abuse but failed to stop it.
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Officers responded to a report of an unresponsive child at a home on the 2300 block of Wilson Street shortly after 9 a.m. First responders performed life-saving measures on the 3-year-old boy and rushed him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
At the hospital, investigators discovered visible signs of abuse on the deceased child and learned the surviving 1-year-old had also suffered multiple serious injuries.
During questioning, the teen admitted to lashing one of the victims several times with a phone charging cable and throwing him by his arm. McKevie also admitted knowing about the abuse and failing to report it.
Both McKevie and the teen now face two counts each of aggravated assault and two counts each of aggravated child abuse.
The surviving 1-year-old boy is currently hospitalized, and Child Protective Services is involved in his care.
Chattanooga Police urge anyone with information about the case to call 423-698-2525.
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