CHARLOTTE- Warrants released by authorities detail the brutal death of a toddler killed on Christmas Eve.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police were called out to the Timber Crest at Greenway Apartments in South Charlotte on Christmas Eve for an unresponsive child. When they arrived, they found 4 year-old Mariya Owens inside her apartment with her family. MEDIC performed CPR on the child and she was taken to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
"I'm like devastated, I think I cried so much I can't even cry anymore," said the child’s aunt, Antrinette Pharr.
According to a police report the 911 caller said Mariya was choking on something but the medical examiner's office painted a much different picture. In a warrant obtained only by Time Warner Cable News - the doctor who her performed the child's autopsy determined homicide was the manner of death. The report to police says the victim had suffered multiple hematomas to the scalp, a seperated vertebrate in the spine, a lacerated aorta, a lacerated liver, multiple hematomas in the back. Thats when police issued the search warrant.
Three days later, 26 year- old Demarcus Heath, who is the boyfriend of the child's mother was arrested and charged with her murder.
Heath had his first court appearance Wednesday in Mecklenburg County Court.
"But he has his day, because there is people that do not play when you harm kids, I hope he can be the grown man like that,” said Pharr.
Several sources say the mother had recently regained custody of Mariya, her twin sister and older sister. Before going back to their mother, they had been staying with their aunt.
"I just wish DSS would start investigating and listening to us more," added Pharr.
The Department of Social Services says it could not comment on specific cases.