Calvin Jones, 23, is in the custody of local authorities, after he admitted he administered punishment to the girl, Saniiyah Kuykendall, whom he was babysitting. He said he reacted instinctively when the 2-year-old girl used the bathroom on the floor. His form of punishment included smacking the toddler around with the back of his hand and then resorting to beating her with a basketball shoe.
According to reports, the toddler’s 21-year-old mother, Anisha Ashford, returned home to find the little girl not feeling well and complaining. Also, when Ashford touched the baby, she felt cold. A neighbor told authorities that about 11:15 on the night of the incident, the child was seen spitting up and gagging and that her eyes were rolling toward the back of her head. The neighbor implored the couple to take the little girl to the hospital, but they refused.
Instead, the couple went to bed. They found the child dead the next morning.
Jones is being charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse. For her refusal to take the child the hospital and no reporting the incident to the police, the mother is being charged with one count of aggravated child abuse.
The other children in the home, ages 1 and 4, were placed with grandparents. Police have not indicated whether the mother, Alford, was aware of the beating. — terry shropshire.
