The Heartbreaking Incident
Aniya Day Garrett, a 4-year-old girl, tragically passed away on March 11, 2018. The cause of her death was a stroke, reportedly as a result of being abused and beaten to death according to multiple sources. The stroke was a result of several blows to her head, which caused subdural hematoma.
The Accused
The accused in this heart-wrenching case were none other than Aniya’s mother, Sierra Day, and her mother’s boyfriend, Deonte Lewis. Both were 23 and 26 years old respectively at the time of the incident. They were charged with the aggravated murder of Aniya Day-Garrett.
The Verdict
After deliberating for just under a day, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Sierra Day and Deonte Lewis. Jurors found Day and Lewis guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, permitting child abuse, three counts of endangering children, and tampering with evidence according to a news source.
The Trial
The dramatic conclusion of the trial followed five days of testimony by witnesses including Aniya’s father, Day’s sister, detectives, a social worker, and a forensic specialist who examined Aniya’s body. The prosecution and defense lawyers for Day and Lewis presented their closing arguments. Day’s defense lawyer argued that the evidence shows that Day did not purposefully or intentionally cause the death of her daughter. Lewis’ attorney defended her client by trying to pin Aniya’s death solely on her mother.
The Aftermath
The tragic death of Aniya Day-Garrett has left a deep impact on the community and raised questions about the effectiveness of child protection services. The system failed Aniya and the Garrett family and that system will be held accountable according to the attorney for Aniya’s birth father, Mickhal Garrett. This case serves as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift action in the face of child abuse.
