Ohio prosecutors announced on Wednesday that a 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy have been accused of raping and attempting to kill a 5-year-old girl in an incident that occurred last month.
The situation unfolded on September 13 when a woman contacted Cleveland police after the 5-year-old girl she was babysitting disappeared. According to WKYC, a bystander claimed to have seen three children lead the girl into a field and assault her.
The young girl was discovered in a fetal position in a field situated less than a quarter-mile from where her babysitter lived. Although the identity of the person who found her remains unknown, police reported discovering the girl’s clothing and additional evidence at the scene.
Following the attack, the girl was taken to the hospital. The victim’s mother recounted to WEWS her harrowing experience of meeting her injured and bloodied daughter inside an ambulance.
“What I saw was beyond belief,” the mother expressed to WOIO.
Authorities have indicated that the juveniles involved are all 10 years old or younger. While it remains uncertain if charges will be brought against the third child, the 10-year-old girl and the 9-year-old boy are facing charges of attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation.
Police said the three juveniles involved in the attack were 10 or younger. It is unclear whether the third juvenile will face charges, but the 1o-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy are charged with attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation.
WEWS reported that the two suspects were not arrested, but they received a summons to appear in court.
The suspects have not been publicly named, presumably due to their age. Officials have not said whether they will be prosecuted as adults.
[Feature Photo: WOIO]
