MARIAH DAWSON - 19 Months (2009)/ Charged: Mother; Maya Willis - Chicago/East side IL

An East Chicago woman has been charged with murder, battery, and
neglect of a  dependent in the death of her 19-month-old daughter, which
was ruled a homicide.  

Mya Lenee Willis, 31, of the 400 block of East Chicago Avenue, is
charged with  killing Mariah Dawson, who died of blunt force trauma from
child abuse and also had been sexually abused, according to the
six-page probable cause affidavit detailing the allegations.  

The child was taken to the emergency room at St. Catherine Hospital
on Sept. 30 and was pronounced dead less than 20 minutes later.  

Willis told hospital personnel she found the child unresponsive and
not  breathing. She had bruises on her right upper abdomen, left hip,
lower abdomen,  left arm and scarring on her back and elsewhere, as well
as anal trauma and  vaginal swelling.  

Witnesses told police Willis had said repeatedly she hated the
child's father and that she "couldn't stand waking up every morning and
looking at Mariah  because she looked so much like (him)," court records state.  

Willis was upset  that the father had a child with another woman and
said she should have left  "the little (expletive) at the hospital,"
court records state. East Chicago police obtained permission to search
Willis' home and collected DNA  from two dents in a hallway at the
residence. The DNA matched Maria Dawson's  DNA. Police also collected
two belts, which had a pattern similar to marks on the  child's back.
Welfare authorities took custody of Willis' two other children, who were
8, 4  and 4 months old at the time.

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Cops: Toddler died at hands of abusive mother


July 8, 2010

CROWN POINT | After her toddler's death last September, Maya Levee Willis allegedly told the child's former baby sitter the 19-month-old succumbed to a seizure.
But in pursuing murder charges against the 31-year-old Willis, police claim a substance found in the dent of a wall in Willis' apartment matches the child's DNA profile.
Lake County prosecutors charged Willis, of East Chicago, on Tuesday with murder, two counts of battery and four counts of neglect of a dependent.
According to a seven-page probable cause affidavit filed in Lake Superior Court, Willis is charged with repeatedly abusing and finally killing her daughter, Mariah Dawson, one of four children born to Willis by as many men.
The court document depicts Mariah as an unwanted child who, in her resemblance to her father, drew her mother's rage.
An autopsy report shows the child died of head injuries and blunt force trauma to the body. Contributing factors included vaginal and rectal injuries consistent with sexual abuse, according to the pathologist's report. Multiple old scars covered her body.
East Chicago Police Chief Gus Flores said Wednesday the allegations are among the worst to have crossed his desk.
Flores described Willis as almost 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds.
"This is among the saddest, most disgusting cases I've ever read," Flores said of the documents prepared to launch the case.
"I can't imagine the hell this poor child lived through," Flores said about the child's injuries. "She appears to have been old enough to know what was happening to her."
The child's condition came to light when police were called Sept. 30, 2009, to the emergency room at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, where the child was declared dead, the court documents show.
The child is described as covered with bruises, scars and marks all over her body, including a big bump on the back of her head, a laceration to the lower lip and a cut and bleeding gum line.
Further examinations revealed vaginal swelling, anal trauma and a distended abdomen.
In statements to police, Willis said the child fell in a hallway and began crying. Willis said she later noticed the child's left side was "paralyzed looking." The child appeared to stop breathing in the car as she drove to the hospital, she told authorities.
Willis denied causing any of the fresh injuries, though she is alleged to have admitted to disciplining the child by "popping her on the hands and legs with a plastic spaghetti or pasta scooper and with a short piece of belt."
Police recovered two belts with similar markings to ones found on Mariah's back, the court documents state.
Willis is alleged to have explained burn scars on the child's back and head to a set of hot curlers falling on the child.
Willis later changed her story by telling investigators the child's fatal injury stemmed from a fall from a bunk bed.
Willis' remaining three children are in state custody, according to court documents.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/east-chicago/article_e6018ffe-0d08-5b5e-b8ad-4db9f51b8930.html

Mother accused of killing toddler has day in court


July 10, 2010
CROWN POINT | Maya Willis, an East Chicago woman accused of battering and finally murdering her 19-month-old daughter, had her first day in court Friday.
With about a half-dozen family members in attendance, the unemployed 31-year-old mother of four told the court she would be in need of a public defender.
Willis on Wednesday turned herself in at the Lake County Jail on a warrant. She remains in custody without bail.
In addition to appointing a public defender to the case, the court on Friday entered a preliminary plea of not guilty and set Willis' next court appearance as July 15, when she may enter a formal plea.
Members of Willis' family declined comment following Friday's hearing.
Willis is charged with murder, two counts of battery and four counts of neglect of a dependent in the death of Mariah Dawson.
Officers responding to a call Sept. 30 by hospital personnel described the child's body as covered in bruises and scars. Further examination revealed vaginal and rectal injuries and a distended abdomen.
Court documents state Willis initially told police the child fell in a hallway after which her left side "locked up." Willis later told police the child fell off the top of a bunk bed.
In an interview with police documented in the court record, the child's father states he last saw the child on her first birthday on Feb. 9, 2009, at a baby sitter's house.
The man describes Willis as having been upset at the unwanted pregnancy and at times wanting to abort the baby or have him adopt her. The man told police Willis would from time to time call him to pick up the child for good. When he would arrive, Willis wouldn't be there, the man said.
He describes a household where Willis allegedly consistently smoked marijuana around her children, who were beaten about their bodies with belts, he said.
Ann Houseworth, spokeswoman for the state Department of Child Services, said Friday the agency has opened an assessment regarding the fatality.
Willis' remaining children continue in protective custody, she said.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/east-chicago/article_6b41e1a9-87c5-552e-9e6b-268b6072448e.html

Public defender appointed to Willis case

July 16, 2010 12:00 am
By Susan Brown, susan.brown@nwi.com, (219) 662-5325

CROWN POINT | Karen Freeman-Wilson, recently rehired by the Lake County public defender's office, has been named to represent an East Chicago woman accused of battering and killing her 19-month-old toddler.

Freeman-Wilson accompanied Maya Willis, 31, to her second court appearance Thursday when subsequent court dates were approved by the court.

Willis' omnibus hearing, during which a trial date can be set, was scheduled for Sept. 2. The next hearing will be July 29 in the courtroom of Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray.

Willis is charged with murder, two counts of battery and four counts of neglect of a dependent in connection with the child's death Sept. 30.

Court documents depict the daughter, Mariah Dawson, as an unwanted child whose resemblance to her father drew Willis' rage.

Autopsy results show the child died of head injuries and blunt force trauma to the body. Other injuries included vaginal swelling, anal trauma and a distended abdomen.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/east-chicago/public-defender-appointed-to-willis-case/article_b41c9c34-e80e-5e9c-b3bb-83a3f484fd5c.html