KAITLYNN HILL - 17 Months - Richland/ Columbia SC

On the eve of 17-month-old Kaitlynn Hill’s funeral, her family
gathered to talk about her death and to warn other young women to be
cautious when leaving their children under the watch of someone else.“Young
mothers, be aware of the men y’all have your kids around,” said Maxine
Scott, the little girl’s maternal grandmother. “Parents, be near your
kids and watch your kids.”Kaitlynn, nicknamed “Kay-Kay,”
died Thursday at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital from injuries she
received in what appears to be a shaken-baby syndrome death. She was
taken to the hospital May 23 with extensive bruises on her body and a
brain injury, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Antwan Lydell Gaddist, 32, has been charged with murder in Kaitlynn’s
death. He is at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where he was
booked last week on child abuse charges. His bail was set at $75,000,
but a new bail hearing for the murder charges will be held this week,
authorities have said.Gaddist was watching Kaitlynn and
her twin brother, Kaleb Hill, while their mother was at work, the
Sheriff’s Department reported. Kaleb was not injured.Kaitlynn’s
mother, grandmother, aunt and nearly a dozen other family members
talked about Kaitlynn’s short life Monday before they attended her
viewing at the funeral home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at
Bostick-Thompkins Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been established at
Wachovia to benefit her twin.The family thanked the doctors and nurses
who cared for Kaitlynn before she died. “They did all they could for Kaitlynn,”
said her aunt, Robin Hill-Davidson. “It was as if Kaitlynn was their own child.”The
little girl was dedicated to Christ by the Rev. Charles Jackson Jr. of
New Laurel Street Missionary Baptist Church before her death,
Hill-Davidson said. Kaitlynn was the bold one in the set
of twins, Hill-Davidson said. She had an independent streak and always
smiled like she was ready for fun. Scott called her granddaughter a
“little go-getter.” “She had such a beautiful smile,” Hill-Davidson said.
“It just makes no sense to be taken so abruptly.”Robert Hill Jr., the father of
Kaitlynn and Kaleb, held his son and cried while the other family members talked.
“If you have kids and you love them, then you know how I feel,” Hill said.Kaleb
already misses his sister, the family said. He has pointed at her
picture a couple of times and is more withdrawn and clings to his father
and mother, they said.Miesha Miller, Kaitlynn’s mother, said she had known Gaddist
for nearly 14 years, and they had one child, now age 13, together.She warned other
women to be careful when leaving their children under the watch of others.
“He just messed up my whole life,” Miller said.

Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2011/05/31/1839965/young-mothers-be-aware.html#ixzz1NwX5gm3F