Prosecutors: Boy, 3, Was Beaten To Death Over Spelling Assignment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Prosecutors on Friday said the aunt of a 3-year-old Brooklyn boy beat him to death with a belt after he refused to complete a spelling assignment.
Christen Dale, 21, was arraigned Friday on manslaughter, assault and other charges in the death of Ethan Ali. She was remanded to jail.
A criminal complaint said the 21-year-old Dale told a detective Ethan was having trouble spelling, and refused to finish an assignment for the first time Tuesday.
Prosecutors said the next day, Dale struck the boy repeatedly with the belt. Officers found the bruised child at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday in a Brownsville apartment.
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office deemed that Ethan's death was a homicide, police said. Investigators there found extensive bruising on his body, back and head as well as internal bleeding from being hit with a belt buckle.
Police had Dale for questioning since Wednesday. Investigators said she was home alone babysitting Ethan at the time. She lives there with Ethan and her sister, Ethan's mother.
Ethan's father, Anthony Ali, came to the house Wednesday night, but was too upset to speak to reporters. Other distraught family members gathered outside the home.
"I want justice," said Ethan's great-aunt Jennifer Evans. "He doesn't deserve that. He's only a child."
The child's great uncle, Devon Evans, blames Dale for Ethan's death.
"She's evil," he said. "Very evil."
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