A 14-year-old girl has been arrested in the murder of her 79-year-old grandmother in Lauderdale Lakes, authorities said.
The teen faces a second-degree murder charge in the May 23 killing of 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said Tuesday.
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Deputies and fire rescue crews had responded to an apartment on Northwest 41st Street after receiving a call of an unresponsive woman.
They met Koval's son, who said he'd gone to visit a friend and left Koval with his 14-year-old daughter.
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He said when he returned, he found Koval unresponsive on the floor with multiple bruises on her body, officials said.
Koval was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Homicide detectives responded to investigate, and the Broward Medical Examiner's Office ruled Koval's death a homicide.
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The teen was identified as a suspect in her grandmother's murder after she'd been admitted to a hospital on the day of the incident. She was taken into custody on Friday.
The granddaughter was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. During the teen's court appearance, prosecutors said they intend to charge her as an adult, and the judge ordered her held until her next hearing.
“The court notes the child suffers possibly from severe post-traumatic stress,” the judge said in court.
The 14-year-old’s father spoke with NBC6 off-camera on Tuesday. He described his mother as faithful, humble and protective of her family.
Ms. Johnson, who said her granddaughter and the 14-year-old played together, said the teen would often express how upset she was that her mother was not in South Florida.
“I was around her enough to know she was a good kid,” Johnson said. “She was jumping up and down and said I wish my mom was here. I guess she doesn't has papers to get here now.”
People who live in the neighborhood were stunned to hear the news
“You wouldn't expect something like that to happen in this community,” one neighbor said. “It's her grandmother. Life is so short for all of us.”
