PINE HILLS, Fla. — Two of three women charged in connection with the death of a 3-year-old boy found unresponsive in a Pine Hills apartment complex appeared before a judge Saturday.
Lakesha Chantell Lewis, 28, and the boy’s mother, 23-year-old Brandi Mokarzel, faced a judge at a first appearance after being arrested Friday. Callene Marcia Barton did not see a judge.
Lewis, charged with first-degree murder, was ordered held without bail. Mokarzel, charged with neglect of a child with great bodily harm, was granted $2,500 bail.
Barton is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with a witness.
The child, later identified as Xavier Mokarzel-Satchel, was transported to the hospital from the Eagle Landing Apartments on Dardanelle and Silver Star roads at about 12:10 p.m. Friday.
He was suffering from blunt force trauma, investigators said.
The toddler was "clinging to life" after being injured by adults, deputies said when they first responded to the incident.
He died at about 5:30 p.m., the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Pine Hills resident Eli Duncan was shocked by the toddler's death and the possibility that it could be a homicide.
"I'm, honestly, disgusted by the whole thing," he said. "I may have seen them on the bus or something. Doesn't matter. It's a 3-year-old. A 3-year-old."
Lewis' 4-year-old daughter, who was also living in the apartment, was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Cox Media Group
