TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) – A 13-year-old girl from Michigan is facing murder charges after prosecutors say she stabbed her 7-year-old sister to death following an argument.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged a 13-year-old girl with first-degree murder, felony murder and first-degree child abuse. The teenager is accused of stabbing her 7-year-old sister to death.
Officials responded to the Taylor neighborhood around 1 p.m. Saturday for a reported stabbing. They found the 7-year-old with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
“It was just a very tragic day, a very tragic day for us,” neighbor Julie Pagoto said. “She used to walk up and down the street every day, riding her bike… stopping and talking to neighbors. She was the sweetest little girl.”
According to the prosecutor’s office, the suspect was babysitting her sister while their parents were not home. It’s alleged the girls had an argument, and after it ended, the teenager waited in the bathroom until her sister came in then stabbed her multiple times. After the attack, the 13-year-old called 911.
“She was one of the special girls… She was all nice. She wanted to play with everyone,” said neighbor Aiden Smith of the victim. “I was upset and all that. I didn’t know the older sister would do that.”
Worthy says prosecutors considered charging the suspect with an adult designation, but they opted to keep her in the juvenile system, given her young age.
“The State would have seven years to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate her until her mandatory release at age 21. Hopefully, then, she would not be a danger to others. While this is a difficult decision, given these facts, it is the right thing to do in this case,” Worthy said.
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