MITCHELL, S.D. – Mitchell Police have arrested a 21 year old woman on manslaughter, child abuse and cruelty charges.
On Monday, June 22, at approx. 8:00 a.m., the Mitchell Department of Public Safety received a 911 call from a female subject who stated that she was going to the emergency room at Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell with a 5-year-old boy who was not breathing. The 5-year-old child was brought to the Queen of Peace Hospital Emergency Room where advanced life saving measures were initiated. The child was declared as being deceased at the hospital.
An autopsy that was performed on June 23 indicated that the child died as a result of significant blunt force trauma to the abdomen, and the death was ruled a homicide. Carter allegedly told police that she kicked the 5-year-old approx. 5 times in the stomach and stomped on his abdomen. She also allegedly said that she knew that she injured the child. Carter and the child lived at the same residence.
As a result of this investigation, 21-year-old Mitchell resident Julia Lee Carter was arrested for First Degree Manslaughter and Abuse or Cruelty to a Minor.
This is an ongoing investigation.