ALIYAH MARIE BRANUM - 2 yo / Accused: Chelsea Huggett, mother - Hernando, FL

Citrus County Sheriff: Mom of 2-year-old Aliyah Marie Branum arrested for her murder

05/02/2013 •By: Jacqueline Ingles

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. - Citrus County Sheriff's deputies say they've arrested the mother of 2-year-old Aliyah Marie Branum for her murder. Aliyah's mother, Chelsea Huggett, 21, is eight months pregnant with her second child.

Aliyah was found "not breathing, conscious or alert" inside the home at 1605 N. Julia Way in Hernando last Friday. Efforts to resuscitate her failed and she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

An autopsy later determined that Aliyah died as a result of excessive trauma.

According to the arrest report, when deputies arrived Huggett told them that her boyfriend--and father of her unborn child--had killed Aliyah by spraying bug spray on her. That man, who is not Aliyah's biological father, was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Deputies say the emergency room physician who treated Aliyah noted swelling and bruising on her face and that her left eye was swollen shut. Aliyah also had bleeding on her brain and did have blood and yellow fluid draining from her ears, deputies said. Aliyah was also bleeding from her nose, documents show.

Medical reports also show Aliyah had a fractured skull and bruising to her privates.

Detectives say Huggett's later admitted to shaking her daughter twice because she would not stop whining and was constantly trying to climb up and sit on her lap.

"That wasn't enough," said Sheriff Jeff Dawsy.

According to reports, Huggett then slammed Aliyah's head into the wall and then head butted her at which time the child went unconscious.

"This isn't someone who snapped. I've seen snapped and this is brutal murder," Dawsy added.

Dawsy went on to call the case "sick and twisted" because Huggett failed to take any actions to save her child. Instead, Huggett told deputies she placed Aliyah in her bed, layed down next to her and watched her die.

When a male roommate came home and noticed the child was not moving he called 911.

Huggett, who is being held without bond on homicide and aggravated child abuse charges, declined speaking to the media in the days following the murder. Her family has also declined. However, they have been very vocal online. Not only did they create a memorial slideshow but Huggett started a Facebook page titled RIP Aliyah Marie.

Deputies said when Huggett confessed to the murder she expressed sorrow and remorse.

"She apologized to Aliyah," said investigator Craig Fass.

Neighbors told ABC Action News Huggett and Aliyah recently moved in with a couple that owned the home. They said they never saw Aliyah outside and rarely would see Huggett.

Still, word of the baby's death left neighbors distraught.

"She didn't deserve death," said Renee Dranberg, a next door neighbor.

The man who owns the home, Brian Allen Jones, has been in custody since Friday on a probation violation. The Department of Children and Family Services also confirmed to ABC Action News, his two daughters, ages 7 and 9, have also been removed from the home.

Jones has not been charged in Aliyah's death. Deputies told ABC Action News he has been very cooperative.

Detectives also reached out to Aliyah's biological father. He lives in California and according to deputies Huggett met him while both were in the military.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO MURDER
• April 24-- Aliyah was taken via ambulance to Citrus Memorial Hospital for an issue involving her hands being swollen. Released later that day, Aliyah returned home with her mother. Witnesses said the child had no bruises.
• April 25-- Huggett's roommates noticed Aliyah was acting lethargic. The roommate talked with Huggett about it. According the the arrest report Huggett told her roommate Aliyah had possibly gotten into a bottle of roach killer as it had spilled in her booster seat.
• April 25 @ 11 p.m .--Huggett, acting on advice from her mother, contacted the poison control hotline. Huggett was told to take Aliyah to the hospital and the hotline worker notified Citrus Memorial Hospital a poisoned child was coming in for treatment.
• April 26 @ 1 a.m.--The poison control hotline called Huggett back after the hospital called to say the Aliyah never arrived. Huggett allegedly told the hotline employee that Aliyah was fine now and would not be seeking medical treatment.
• April 26 @ 4 a.m.--Deputies say Huggett shook Aliyah, covered her mouth with her hand to muffle the cries and then slammed Aliyah's head into the wall, playpen and then head butted the 2-year-old knocking her unconscious.

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

According to the Department of Children and Families, Huggett has been investigated twice for child abuse and neglect allegations.

The first allegations surfaced back in August. Officials say they closed the case because there were no indicators of abuse. At the time, Huggett was apparently offered a number of support services for assistance. Case worker reported that Huggett was cooperative and worked with them through December.

In January, another concern was presented regardingthe living conditions for the child in addition to a mark on Aliya's back. Documentation shows that when seen the following day by child protection workers, Aliyah did not display any obvious signs of abuse or neglect on her body, including her back. Huggett, according to officials, accepted assistance with daycare which created better visibility for the child in the community.

The agency confirmed that Aliyah was seen just two days prior to her death by emergency medical professionals for swollen hands. At the time, doctors did not find any evidence of abuse.

UNBORN CHILD & CUSTODY

DCF officials plan to meet to discuss the best possible placement for the infant upon delivery.

Any parent feeling overwhelmed, or a parent who is concerned that they may harm their child can reach out for help from DCF at 1-800-96ABUSE.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_citrus_hernando/citrus-county-sheriff-arrest-made-in-death-of-2-year-old

Sad, I would love to have a 2 year old daughter and she treats the baby like that. She should get the death penalty William

Mother who had her daughter's name and birthday tattooed across her chest 'smashed the two-year-old's head against the wall and killed her because the child wouldn't stop whining'

By Rachel Quigley
PUBLISHED:08:29 EST, 3 May 2013| UPDATED:11:25 EST, 3 May 2013

A 21-year-old mother who has her two-year-old daughter's name and birthday tattooed on her chest is behind bars after she confessed to police that she shook the child, smashed her head against the wall and headbutted her because she would not stop 'whining'.

Chelsea Huggett, from Florida, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after police were called to her home on April 26, where her child Aliyah was unconscious.

She was pronounced dead in hospital.

Huggett first blamed her boyfriend for the toddler's injuries, telling police he killed her by spraying bug spray on her.



Mother: Chelsea Huggett, from Florida, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after police were called to her home on April 26, where her child Aliyah was unconscious


Lies: Huggett initially told police that her boyfriend killed Aliyah by spraying bug spray on her


Victim: Huggett said she shook Aliyah because she was trying to climb over her and sit on her lap and would not stop whining

She later confessed to the terrible child abuse, telling police that she shook her because she whined all of the time and wanted to sit on her lap and climb over her all the time.

A few hours later, she yelled at her daughter to 'shut the f*** up' and covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her cries, according to the police report.

At the time of her death, investigators say Aliyah had bruises all over her body, including her face, head, arms, legs, back and shoulders. She had yellow fluid coming from her ears and was bleeding from her nose and ears.


Baby Aliyah had bruises all over her body, including her face, head, arms, legs, back and shoulders when she was taken to hospital. Huggett is eight months pregnant with her second child


History: The Department of Children and Families investigated Huggert at least twice since Aug 2012, but said in an email to 10 News that they found no reason to remove the child

The medical examiner also determined she had a skull fracture and hemorrhaging on the left side of her swollen brain, News 10 reports.

Citrus County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Dawsy said: 'This is a brutal murder of a defenseless child, of a two-year-old, and she could have sought help of numerous occasions and she failed to do that.'


The Department of Children and Families investigated Huggert at least twice since Aug 2012, but said in an email to 10 News that they found no reason to remove the child.

Huggett is currently eight months pregnant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2318953/Florida-mother-Chelsea-Huggett-killed-daughter-2-shaking-smashing-head-wall.html

She was a cutie. So sad a mother would treat her daughter like that. Little Aliyah just wanted love and her mother gave her death. Breaks my heart. William

What a beautiful baby.

Had she taken her to the hospital she wouldn't have had to hear her whine.

Had she laid down with her BEFORE she tortured her, or instead of, she would not have had to hear her whine.

This baby was crying for love and attention and she was tortured to death.

At least she will not kill this one and will never have anymore.

Upsetting beyond words.

How child services repeatedly failed to protect disabled girl, 2, before she was 'killed by her mother who smashed her head against the wall' 

• Aliyah Marie Branum was savagely beaten, smothered and neglected in her short life
  
  
• Her mother Chelsea Huggett, 21, is facing first-degree murder charge over her daughter's death in Florida
  
  

PUBLISHED: 18:50 EST, 19 August 2013 | UPDATED: 18:57 EST, 19 August 2013




A two-year-old disabled girl was repeatedly let down by social services it was claimed today after authorities missed opportunities to save her in the months before she was allegedly murdered by her own mother. 


Aliyah Marie Branum was savagely beaten, smothered and neglected in her short life. 


In April, her 21-year-old mother is believed to have fatally injured her after smashing her head against the wall because she would not stop 'whining'. 


Chelsea Huggett, from Florida, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
Police were called to Huggett's home on April 26, where Aliyah was found unconscious.

The little girl was pronounced dead in hospital. Her skull had been cracked open.

Records obtained by the Miami Herald this week show that there were repeated warning signs that Aliyah was being viciously abused by an unstable mother who could not take care of her needs. 


Huggett was investigated in the nine months before her daughter died following two calls to an abuse and neglect hotline revealed that the girl and her mother were homeless. 


Aliyah was born with several disabilities but her mother failed to address her needs properly. Her diaper was rarely changed, leaving bleeding sores on her legs.


Child services then asked Huggett in January 2013 about bruises on her daughter's thighs to which she angrily denied abusing her daughter. Aliyah was again left in her mother's care. 


There were separate reports that Huggett, a former soldier with a history of anger issues, had tried to smother her daughter while sitting in a veterans' services office.



Aliyah is believed to be one of dozens of children who have died following oversights by the Department of Children and Families in Florida, the Herald reported.

The man in charge David Wilkins was fired last month as lawmakers this week began an investigation into how the abused children slipped through the net.



At the time of her death, investigators say Aliyah had bruises all over her body, including her face, head, arms, legs, back and shoulders. She had yellow fluid coming from her ears and was bleeding from her nose and ears.



Huggett, who has her daughter’s name and birthday tattooed across her chest, first blamed her boyfriend for the toddler's injuries.
She told police that he had killed her by spraying bug spray on the little girl.

She later confessed to the terrible child abuse, telling police that she shook her because she whined all of the time and wanted to sit on her lap and climb over her all the time.


A few hours later, she yelled at her daughter to 'shut the f*** up' and covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her cries, according to the police report from April.


The medical examiner also determined Aliyah had a skull fracture and hemorrhaging on the left side of her swollen brain, News 10 reports.


Citrus County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Dawsy said: 'This is a brutal murder of a defenseless child, of a two-year-old, and she could have sought help of numerous occasions and she failed to do that.'

Mom allegedly slammed ‘whining’ toddler into wall


By Stephen Loiaconi
updated1:50 PM EDT, Mon May 06, 2013

• Chelsea Huggett allegedly head-butted 2-year-old daughter, slammed her head against a wall for whining
  
• Huggett charged with murder, aggravated child abuse
  
• Police: Huggett initially claimed bug spray caused death
  

A Florida mother who allegedly claimed her 2-year-old daughter’s death was caused by bug spray later admitted she beat the child and slammed her head into a wall because she was whining, authorities alleged in court documents.

An arrest affidavit stated that Chelsea Huggett, 21, initially told Citrus County Sherriff’s Office deputies on April 26 that her boyfriend had killed her daughter, Aliyah Marie Branum, by spraying bug spray. However, deputies noted “the multitude of bruises, marks and other injuries to the victim,” according to the affidavit.

Aliyah’s death was ruled a homicide and the manner of death was determined to be blunt force trauma. A medical examiner documented a skull fracture and bruising on her forehead, cheeks, lips, shoulders and back.

Investigators learned that Aliyah had been taken to the hospital by ambulance on April 24 because of swelling in her hands.

Witnesses stated that the bruises found on the girl’s body after her death two days later were not present at the time.

According to the affidavit, witnesses described the victim as acting “lethargic” on April 25. Huggett and her roommates allegedly speculated then that Aliyah may have been exposed to ant/roach killer that had spilled on her booster seat.

Acting on the advice of her mother, Huggett contacted the poison control hotline that night, the affidavit said. A hotline employee recommended that she take Aliyah to a hospital.

Two hours later, the hotline called Huggett back because she had not done so. At that point, Huggett claimed Aliyah was fine and did not need to go to a hospital, according to the affidavit.

On May 2, Huggett agreed to speak to authorities for a follow-up interview. After being read her Miranda rights, she allegedly admitted that she did not seek medical attention for Aliyah because people at the hospital would see the girl’s bruises.

Huggett also allegedly confessed that she had shaken Aliyah at least twice on April 25 and 26 because she would not stop “whining.”

“She told me that the victim would whine all of the time and constantly wanted to climb on her and sit in her lap,” a detective wrote in the arrest affidavit.

According to the document, Huggett stated that she shook the crying child around 4 a.m. on April 26 and covered her mouth. She then allegedly slammed Aliyah’s head into a wall and head-butted her.

At that point, Aliyah lost consciousness and never woke up. Huggett allegedly admitted she then lay in bed with the unconscious child and did not seek medical treatment.

According to the affidavit, Huggett said she did not intend to kill her daughter but she could not take the whining anymore.

Huggett was charged with aggravated child abuse and murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse. She is scheduled for arraignment on June 3.

According to court documents, Huggett is eight months pregnant. She is being held without bond at Citrus County Jail.

Huggett has been assigned a public defender. A spokesperson for the Citrus County Public Defender’s Office declined to comment on the case Friday.

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/06/mom-allegedly-slammed-toddler-wall-over-whining

Here's another older story - can't find anything recent but this is the ex-boyfriends interview.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-boyfriend of mother accused of killing toddler speaks out
Thursday, May 09, 2013



New details about the Citrus County woman accused of killing her daughter have been released.

Deputies released the 911 called made after 2-year-old Aliyah Branum was found not breathing on Thursday.

During the call, the caller said that Aliyah was not responding and that she had grey, purplish lips.

Aliyah's mother, Chelsea Huggett is charged with her daughter's murder. Deputies said Huggett admitted to beating her daughter to death. Hugget remains behind bars and is 8 months pregnant.

Jason Ruane, Huggett's ex-boyfriend of two years and father of her unborn baby, spoke out for the first time since Huggett was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

"I was just in shock.  I started crying.  I was lost for words because I had never seen ever hit Aliyah or just take out anything on her daughter," said Ruane.

When asked if he thought Huggett committed the crime and if he actually believed that she did it,  he answered, "I have a feeling...she confessed to it so I honestly believe she did it."

At the same time, he said he and Chelsea did everything that the Department of Children and Families wanted them to do.  He claims the allegations of bruises and rashes were just that, he says, allegations.

"She was well taken care of," he said. "She was always happy.  Everybody I know sees us.  We're always together.  She's always smiling."

He says something must have happened and Chelsea snapped.

When asked what he wanted to see happen to Huggett, Ruane said, "I want to see her do her time.  She did what she did.  She's not going to be able to see my daughter but I want her to speak up because there's more that happened in that house for her to have snapped like that."

When asked if he believes the Citrus County Sheriff's Department should further their investigation, he says, "They need to do more digging."

Ruane wants to fight for custody of his unborn baby.

"I'm going to do the DNA and take whatever steps there is to make sure she's safe in a happy home.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure my daughter is raised in a safe environment and that Chelsea will never get to meet her for what she done."

Ruane plans to call the baby, Amelia, a name that he says both he and Huggett picked out together, though he says he never wants Huggett near the baby.

http://mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/5/9/exclusive_ex_boyfrie.html