KELIS RUCKER - 4 yo - (2009)Manatee FL

Poster's Note: Though no charges have been filed yet, not all post-mortem tests have been returned and LE has already hinted at some charges, not necessarily leading to death.

A 4-year-old girl who died in her mother's
Manatee County home last week had marks on her neck that suggested
strangulation, but authorities say her death may not be a homicide,
according to police documents released this week.

The death of Kelis Rucker -- found unconscious in a closet after her
mother said she left her alone for 10 minutes -- continues to confound
detectives, who took DNA evidence from her mother and also searched the
home for clues.Kelis' mother, Dominique Brewer, 28, told
investigators that only she and her 18-month-old daughter were in the
home with Kelis before her death.Brewer, who lives in a duplex in the 6700 block of 46th Avenue West, found the girl at 6:20 p.m. on Aug. 14 and called 911.According
to search warrant affidavits, an initial exam at Blake Medical Center
revealed marks and bruises around Kelis' neck that are consistent with
strangulation.A hospital physician and sheriff's detective also
saw indications that the girl had been sexually battered, although an
agency spokesman said this week that the case does not appear to be a
homicide."If anything, at this point, we're looking at a possible neglect case," said Dave Bristow, Manatee sheriff's spokesman.A report by the medical examiner is not complete because investigators are awaiting the return of toxicology tests.Brewer says she left the child unattended for about 10 minutes before finding her dead in a closet.Brewer told detectives she would not speak to them without an attorney present, according to the search warrants.No one answered the door at Brewer's home on Friday.

http://www.bradenton.com/2009/08/27/1666750/funeral-services-for-girl-4-set.html

Funeral services for girl, 4, set for Saturday

HERALD STAFF REPORT


MANATEE - Funeral services for Kelis Shontay Rucker, whose death is under investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, are set for Saturday.Kelis, whose nickname was "Pinky," was found by her mother, Dominique Brewer, in a closet. Brewer began screaming frantically at the scene when she found her daughter, according to reports. Deputies attempted to resuscitate Rucker at a duplex in the 6700 block of 46th Avenue West at 6:20 p.m. Aug. 14. Rucker was taken to Blake Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.No one has been charged with the child’s death, and the investigation is ongoing.
Officials have indicated they are investigating the girl's death as a homicide and/or sexual battery, but they also said the death may have been accidental. An exact cause of death has not been determined.The Bradenton Herald in December wrote about Pinky and her family, after firefighters and other employees at Bradenton Fire Department Station No. 1 gave them Christmas gifts.The family will receive visitors from 5 to 8 p.m. at Westside Funeral Home, 204 Seventh St. W., Palmetto. Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James AME Church, 2315 Fifth Ave. Drive E., Palmetto.



Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2009/08/27/1666750/funeral-services-for-girl-4-set.html#ixzz10OrQ0FpL

no results found if charges were ever filed, or an official cause of death, etc.

Death of girl, 4, is not believed to be a homicide

By Anthony Cormier


Published: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:13 p.m.
MANATEE - A 4-year-old girl who died in her mother's Manatee County home last week had marks on her neck that suggested strangulation, but authorities say her death may not be a homicide, according to police documents released this week.

The death of Kelis Rucker -- found unconscious in a closet after her mother said she left her alone for 10 minutes -- continues to confound detectives, who took DNA evidence from her mother and also searched the home for clues.

Kelis' mother, Dominique Brewer, 28, told investigators that only she and her 18-month-old daughter were in the home with Kelis before her death.

Brewer, who lives in a duplex in the 6700 block of 46th Avenue West, found the girl at 6:20 p.m. on Aug. 14 and called 911.

According to search warrant affidavits, an initial exam at Blake Medical Center revealed marks and bruises around Kelis' neck that are consistent with strangulation.

A hospital physician and sheriff's detective also saw indications that the girl had been sexually battered, although an agency spokesman said this week that the case does not appear to be a homicide.

"If anything, at this point, we're looking at a possible neglect case," said Dave Bristow, Manatee sheriff's spokesman.

A report by the medical examiner is not complete because investigators are awaiting the return of toxicology tests.

Brewer says she left the child unattended for about 10 minutes before finding her dead in a closet.

Brewer told detectives she would not speak to them without an attorney present, according to the search warrants.

No one answered the door at Brewer's home on Friday.

More physical signs and evidence stated.

http://www.bradenton.com/2009/08/21/1653759/detectives-investigate-childs.html

Detectives investigate child’s Aug. 14 death
By BETH BURGER - bburger@bradenton.com

MANATEE — Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate the death of a 4-year-old girl who was found not breathing by her mother last week.