BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County grand jury handed down an indictment of first-degree murder for a foster mother accused of killing a four-year-old girl in her care.
Lakeisha Mitchell, 41, was also indicted on charges of child abuse, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
According to police, Mitchell called police to her home on Queen St. on August 23rd, claiming to have found the child unconscious in the bathtub.
Brevard Grand Jury Indicts Lakeisha MITCHELL (41) & Gary RIVERS (50) for 1st Degree Murder in separate @TitusvillePD & BCSO incidents. RIVERS shot his wife - MITCHELL fatally abused a 4 year old foster child in her care. Details, all charges at https://t.co/ZXN1sJDzvi pic.twitter.com/HHo6ZQFEfk
— State Attorney 18th Circuit FL (@SA18PIO) October 6, 2021
The girl was taken to the hospital and later died.
Police say Mitchell claimed the child’s death was an accident, but medical staff at Arnold Palmer Hospital noted extensive physical injuries to the girl that ultimately led to her death.
READ: Troopers searching for driver who left the scene of deadly crash in Cocoa
Mitchell was initially arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and was later charged with murder after a Medical Examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide.
Mitchell is being held in the Brevard County jail on no bond. No trial date has been set.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Cox Media Group
