Dericka Lindsay a 9 year old Pensacola child has died after her parents made her 325 pound cousin sit on her as punishment for being unruly.
Dericka Lindsay a 9 year old Pensacola, Florida child has died after her 325 pound adult cousin allegedly sat on her as punishment for acting ‘out of control’.
A report via the Pensacola News Journal told of Dericka going into cardiac arrest Saturday after complaining she couldn’t breath when her 64 year old cousin Veronica Green Posey sat on her.
Despite being rushed to nearby Baptist Hospital, the girl was pronounced dead.
During questioning, Posey told deputies sitting on the girl in an armchair to discipline her for ‘being out of control.’
Upon getting up, the cousin realized the girl was unresponsive and began to apply CPR.
Posey, who told officers she weighed 325 pounds, was arrested and charged with homicide and cruelty toward a child.
Also charged were Dericka’s parents. Grace Joan Smith, 69, and James Edmund Smith, 62, who now face charges of child neglect for failing to report the abuse. Additionally, Grace Smith was charged with cruelty toward a child.
All three were taken into custody at Escambia County Jail.
Dericka Lindsay a history of ongoing child abuse?
Posey was released Monday on $125,000 bond, while Grace Smith’s and James Smith’s bonds were set at $75,000 and $50,000 respectively. According to court documents, the child’s parents remained in jail.
According to Grace’s arrest report, Posey was called to the house for assistance with disciplining Dericka. Dericka’s mother admitted striking the 9 year old with a ruler and a metal pipe, with the child running to an armchair.
In James Smith’s arrest report, the father said Posey sat on Dericka in the armchair for an estimated 10 minutes before Dericka complained of not being able to breathe. He told the deputy Posey continued to sit on the child for another two minutes before standing up and finding the child unresponsive.
The incident has since led to Florida Department of Children and Families saying the agency is investigating Dericka’s death.
‘Dericka’s death is appalling and DCF will continue coordinating with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to hold anyone responsible for her death accountable,’ Secretary Mike Carroll said in a statement. ‘As the family has a prior interaction with the child welfare system, a thorough quality assurance review will be conducted to review all prior interactions this family has had with the child welfare system.’