The mother of a 5-year-old girl who died after her father bludgeoned her in the head with a brush handle in July 2012 admitted she did not seek medical treatment for her daughter.
Dominique Smith, 24, and Masceo Emanuel, 27, were charged with murder as a result of the death of their daughter, Diamond Smith. Emanuel accepted a plea deal earlier this month calling for a 25-year sentence after he admitted he grew angry with the girl and struck her while he was caring for her July 10, 2012.
Smith said Monday in pleading guilty to a single count of endangering the welfare of a child that she was not home at the time of the beating. She is expected to receive a 10-year sentence, which is contingent on Emanuel’s sentencing.
Smith said she did not seek medical treatment for her daughter even after she noticed she had a black eye and was acting strangely. Prosecutors have said the girl was hit in the head nearly a dozen times with a hair brush, causing her to lose control of her bodily functions.
Authorities searched the couple’s home and found a belt and belt buckle which they say was used to beat the girl and her brother. Emanuel admitted he used the belt to discipline the girl and her brother.
Prosecutors said the parents told authorities they found the girl unresponsive after giving her asthma medication July 10 and allowing her to sleep in the living room.
An autopsy revealed the child suffered hemorrhaging in four areas of her head and died of blunt force trauma. She was severely underweight and had likely been abused over a lengthy period as she had fresh and healing wounds, prosecutors have said.
At the time, Emanuel didn’t explain why he chose to accept prosecutors’ deal against the advice of his attorney. But Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kimm Lacken said it was to take the “heat” off Smith.
Emanuel is scheduled for sentencing May 28. Smith is scheduled for sentencing June 2.