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Medical Examiner: 2-Year-Old Far Rockaway Girl Died From Abuse

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Autopsy results show that a 2-year-old girl died from blows to the head and other physical abuse, the city medical examiner's office said Tuesday.

The death of Kevasia Edwards was ruled a homicide. Authorities said the little girl had two broken ribs and bruises on her legs and body and was bleeding from the mouth when she was found unconscious in her Queens home on Feb. 3. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The girl's mother, Ashley Diaz, was arrested two days later. She told investigators her daughter fell after suffering a seizure but she didn't take her to a doctor, instead calling a neighbor for help hours after the fall, prosecutors said. It was the neighbor's sister who called 911, they said.

In February, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said the little girl "suffered greatly in her short life."

"The actions of the defendant are totally incomprehensible," Brown said.

Diaz has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges. At an arraignment, her lawyer blamed the girl's injuries and small size to her being born premature at 26 weeks.

The Administration for Children's Services had visited Diaz's home in Far Rockaway at least four times in the past few years, police said, though three of the visits proved unfounded.

Diaz faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

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