BOX ELDER, S.D. (AP) — A Box Elder woman is charged with manslaughter and child abuse in the death of a 2-year-old girl.
Box Elder Police Sgt. Joshua Campbell said it was immediately obvious the child did not die naturally because of the amount and severity of bruising on her body.
Precious Delacey Black Elk, 22, called 911 Sunday afternoon to report the child was not breathing, according to police. Authorities have not described the relationship between Black Elk and the child.
First responders arrived and found the toddler was unresponsive and beyond resuscitation, the Rapid City Journal reported.
Campbell says an autopsy determined the child’s manner of death was a homicide. Black Elk was arrested Monday and charged with second-degree manslaughter and abusing a child under the age of seven. It was not immediately clear is she has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Black Elk is expected to make an initial appearance in court Tuesday.