A 14-year-old girl will stand trial as an adult for allegedly beating her 80-year-old grandmother to death in May.
Sofia Koval admitted to beating Yevheniia Koval with a walker and belt after she scratched her.
The teen, who came to the US from Ukraine, allegedly told detectives her grandmother was “already dying and that she helped her die.”
The victim suffered 15 abrasions to her face and neck, hemorrhaging to the right side of her neck and arms, scalp contusions, and a brain bleed. Her death was deemed a homicide.
Although investigators noted that the troubled girl appeared sleep-deprived and in the midst of a psychotic episode at the time of the crime, a judge decided she should remain behind bars.
“Due to the severity of the crime and after reviewing the defense’s presentations, we believe the case should proceed in adult court,” Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said.
“We are exploring all options and working closely with the Broward Public Defender’s Office to find a resolution that holds her accountable while considering her age and the circumstances of the case.”
