LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (AP/WSVN) — A 14-year-old girl is accused of killing her grandmother in South Florida, authorities said Tuesday.
The teen, identified as Sofia Koval, was arrested Friday after a medical examiner determined that 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval’s death was a homicide, a Broward Sheriff’s Office news release said.
Deputies and rescue workers responded early Thursday morning to a Lauderdale Lakes apartment, where a man told officials that he found his mother unresponsive and covered in bruises. Paramedics took the woman to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The man told investigators that he had left his mother’s home with his teenage daughter while he went to visit a friend.
According to BSO, “when he returned home, he found his mother unresponsive on the floor with multiple bruises on her body.”
Detectives said they identified the granddaughter as a suspect in the woman’s death but didn’t immediately provide details or a motive for the killing.
“The 79-year-old female was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased,” said BSO spokesperson Gerdy St. Louis.
An autopsy report ruled the death a homicide.
“Detectives determined that the 14-year-old daughter was the suspect in her grandmother’s murder,” said St. Louis.
Neighbors were in shock to hear the news. Others were in disbelief.
“She’s a good girl. It’s just something I can’t see Sofia doing,” said a neighbor.
“It’s terrifying to be honest, like you would never suspect something like that, especially from a family member,” said another neighbor.
“We heard the police. Everybody started coming out one by one,” said neighbor Brandon Stuart. “Regular looks like, regular grandma with her granddaughter. They used to go to the pool over there sometimes. Unfortunate. Never saw that coming at all.”
A family friend said that the young girl was struggling.
“She wanted her mom who is in the United Kingdom. She can’t get over here so she’s, she was distorted. I can’t see her doing anything drastic,” said the woman.
It is unclear what led the teen to commit murder.
“It’s Satan doing what he does best,” said the family friend.
The girl faces one count of second-degree murder. It wasn’t immediately known whether she would be tried as a juvenile or as an adult.
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