Milwaukee caregivers accused of long-term child abuse after 4-year-old girl dies
12/22/2022 12:08 pm PST
MILWAUKEE (TCD) -- Three caregivers were recently charged in connection with the alleged neglect, abuse, and beating death of a 4-year-old girl.
On Dec. 16, first responders responded to a home near 21st and National, WITI-TV reports. There, authorities reportedly found the unresponsive 4-year-old victim, later identified as Kaliyah King.
The child was transported to Children’s Wisconsin, where it was determined that King suffered bruising and a severe traumatic brain injury, WITI reports. She succumbed to her injuries soon after being admitted to the hospital.
According to WITI, Winston Chambers, 29, Princess Arredondo, 29, and Chambers’ mother, Corinne Beechtree, 56, acted as the 4-year-old’s caregivers because the victim’s mother was homeless.
When he was interviewed at the hospital, Chambers allegedly said that King fell from her bed and vomited on Dec. 15, so she stayed home from school the next day.
Chambers also said the girl had been hit by a car, TMJ-TV reports.
According to WITI, surveillance video footage was reviewed, and authorities did not find any crash that was consistent with Chambers’ statement.
Chambers reportedly said he came home from picking up other children from school and told the 4-year-old to complete her homework. According to WITI, Chambers told authorities that after 45 minutes, she refused to do her homework or go to the corner as punishment, so Chambers beat the girl with a belt. The girl allegedly fell, hitting her head on a toy.
Arredondo reportedly told Chambers to call 911 after she went unconscious.
Police confronted Chambers because his statements and timeline of events weren’t consistent with phone records, but he insisted he was not lying, WITI reports.
According to a complaint obtained by WITI, Chambers tried to fabricate again and told investigators that Arredondo stomped on King, and when he arrived home, Arredondo said, "That little (expletive) kicked me in the face."
Police searched their phones, and in a text message obtained by police, Arredondo allegedly wrote, "Maybe u should told a story we all knew, bro."
Police also looked into Chambers’ search history and reportedly found, "Under the table doctors," "How to wake up an unconscious person," and "Free doctor consultation number."
Prosecutors allege that Beechtree, Chambers’ mother, knew the girl was severely injured on Dec. 16, but she lied about it, WITI reports. Beechtree was reportedly able to see the victim unresponsive via video call but didn’t call for help.
Beechtree had allegedly seen Chambers hit the child in the chest and push her to the ground. She also said that Chambers and Arredondo forced the child to stand with her arms above her head and beat her with a belt, WITI reports.
Chambers’ girlfriend, Arredondo, reportedly told investigators that Chambers took King into a bedroom when he got home, and she overheard the child screaming and crying. She said Chambers struck the child and King’s eye was bruised, WITI reports.
Arredondo reportedly admitted to police that she knew she should have called for help but didn’t because she was "afraid of what Chambers would do."
Another child in the home told investigators, "Winston did it," according to WITI.
The child reportedly claimed Chambers would beat King with a belt and broom handle, punch King in the stomach, kick her in the legs and punch her in the face "until he is sweaty."
Chambers, Beechtree, and Arredondo were all booked into the Milwaukee County Jail, records show. All three caregivers are facing a charge of neglecting a child — consequence is death. Arredondo faces an additional charge for chronic neglect of a child, TMJ reports, and Chambers also faces a count of physical abuse of a child, repeated, and first-degree reckless homicide.
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