According to the court documents, the 31-year-old caretaker, later identified as AIysia, is now facing the death penaIty for her role in the death of 4-year-old Athena. Per reports, the district attorney is recommending the death penalty for the woman, who is charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors filed to seek the death penalty against the defendant on Tuesday.
During the fiIIing, prosecutors also stated that the caretaker’s actions reportedly knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person. Last year, authorities began their investigation after witnesses saw Athena’s older sister wandering outside AIysia’s’ home. AIysia, the aunt and primary caregiver of the little girl, reportedly told investigators that her 37-year-old husband, lvon, beat the child to death. But, an autopsy reportedly revealed that the 4-year-old girl died of pneumonia compIicating maInutrition.
Per reports, the little girl also tested positive for COVID-19, rhinovirus, enterovirus, human adenovirus, and human bocavirus. But there wasn’t any physical trauma. Prosecutors also said that the 31-year-old woman reportedly put the little girl in a cIoset and deprived her of proper nutrition. Athena’s body was found stuffed into a backpack in a shaIIow grave. Prosecutors said that together with the backpack, the 4-year-old only weighed 22 pounds.
The death penalty is not being sought out in the case of Ivon, who is facing child abuse charges. He is also charged with unlawful removal of a body and child neglect. Prosecutors said the girl’s aunt reportedly provided false information to investigators when she told them that her husband had beaten the little girl to death. District Attorney Hicks says the aunt should be punished by death because the death of the little girl was especially hein0us, atr0cious or, crueI, and her knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person. The girl’s mother, Jasmine, was charged last year for abandoning her daughters with AIysia and her husband.
