9-Year-Old Florida Girl Dies After 325-Lb Cousin Sits on Her as Punishment
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Veronica Green Posey
PENSACOLA, FL — To punish nine-year-old Dericka Lindsay for supposedly "being out of control," her 325-pound cousin Veronica Green Posey sat on the child.
For 10 minutes, Posey remained atop Dericka. Even after the child screamed to her nearby parents that she could not breathe, the 64-year-old woman continued to sit on the girl for another two minutes.
After Posey finally relented, Dericka was unresponsive. Posey called 911 and attempted CPR. It didn't work. Doctors at Baptist Hospital, where the Dericka was rushed, pronounced the girl dead.
Police arrested Posey and charged her with homicide and cruelty to a child.
Officers also arrested Dericka's mother and father, Grace Jones Smith, 69, and James Edmund Smith, 62. They're charged with child neglect.
Escambia County Jail
Grace Jones Smith, Edmund Joseph Smith
The Florida Department of Children and Families called the death "appalling" and reported that agency had been called to deal with the family over a prior incident, stating:
"As the family has a prior interaction with the child welfare system, a thorough quality assurance review will be conducted to review all prior interactions this family has had with the child welfare system."
Posey is free on $125,000 bond. Grace is free on $75,000 bond. James is still locked up, waiting to secure a $50,000 bond, after which he will also be free.
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