Woman Charged With Murder In 4-Year-Old's Death: Philly DA

PHILADELPHIA — A 38-year-old woman is facing murder and related charges in connection with the death of a 4-year-old girl who died while in her care.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said Samilya Brown, 28, of Philadelphia, has been arrested and charged in the murder of 4-year-old Zya Singleton. She has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and other related charges.

Brown told Philadelphia Police that Singleton fell out of a second story window while playing with a cat on Oct. 30.

Singleton was pronounced dead on Nov. 3 and according to the DA's office, a medical examination of the child at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania found inconsistencies with Brown’s of what happened.

Later, the city's Medical Examiner found evidence of abuse toward Singleton, the DA's office said.

On Singleton's body, the medical examiner's office found bite marks, open wounds to her face and scalp, cigarette and other larger burns to her left arm and thigh, puncture wounds, and signs of malnourishment, according to the DA's office.

In addition, evidence was found that Singleton's injuries had been treated with homemade stitches, which might have contributed to severe infection on the wound sites, the DA's office said.