North Carolina mom forced teen daughter to help bury 4-year-old sister in back yard: Warrant

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TCD) --

A North Carolina woman charged with killing her 4-year-old daughter and burying the girl in her back yard forced the girl's teenage sister help her dispose of the remains, according to a search warrant.

The 4-year-old girl, identified as Miegellic “Jelli” Young, had not been seen for months before her remains were found on Malikah Bennett’s property on May 21.

Bennett, 31, the girl’s mother, was charged with first-degree murder; felony child abuse; inflicting physical injury; and felony concealment of a death in May.

The 4-year-old girl was last seen alive at Bennett’s residence in September 2020. Detectives believe the girl was buried the same month.

On May 27, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Malikah Bennett's mother, 53-year-old Tammy Moffett, was arrested and charged with concealing a death and accessory after the fact following an interview with detectives.

The Charlotte Observer, quoting a search warrant in the case, reports Malikah Bennett and her boyfriend had lived with Miegellic and seven other children in the house on the 3700 block of Braden Drive since August.

Bennett’s 13-year-old daughter reportedly told police she was forced to help bury the 4-year-old’s body in the back yard.

The 13-year-old reportedly told police Miegellic had soiled herself in her pants, and had been forced to stand in the laundry room of the house as punishment for three days without sitting down, the Observer reports. The teen said Miegellic fell out of the back door and hit her head on the ground, and died after Bennett tried performing CPR.

Bennett allegedly washed the girl’s body and put her into two black plastic trash bags, the teen told police, the Observer reports. The body was then put in the trunk of an SUV for several days before Bennett buried the girl with the teen’s help, the Observer reports.

Miegellic’s body reportedly had serious injuries, including bruises, swelling and black eyes, according to Bennett’s arrest warrant, the Observer reports.

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