A 14-year-old girl has been charged in relation to the death of her grandmother — after she allegedly told her father she “helped” the 79-year-old die.
Back in May, Yevheniia Koval was found unresponsive in her home of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. Broward County Sheriff’s Office announced at the time the woman was found with “multiple bruises” on her body in the early hours of May 23. She was quickly brought to the hospital in an attempt to save her life, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away at the facility.
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Due to the nature of the elderly woman’s injuries, her death was ruled a homicide. Shockingly, though, Yevheniia’s 14-year-old granddaughter Sofia Koval would quickly become a person of interest — and her father would tell police a chilling story.
According to Sofia’s dad, per an affidavit obtained by multiple outlets, the girl was experiencing “behavior issues” before the family immigrated from Ukraine. The family fled from the ongoing war, and allegedly Sofia viewing this and her separation from her mother caused her to have some problems. Sad.
On the morning of May 23, Sofia’s father was attempting to discipline her so he took her phone away. He left her at home with Yevheniia, not thinking anything of it. By the time he got home, though, is when he found the elderly woman unresponsive. This is when Sofia allegedly told her dad she attacked her grandmother in self-defense.
According to an arrest document obtained by NBC Miami, the teen allegedly “struck the victim several times with a belt” and beat her with her walker before she began to cry and express remorse for the crime. Sofia also reportedly told her father she “helped” her grandmother die — because she was “already dying”.
Wow… some wild logic.
Sofia was arrested and charged with manslaughter in relation to the homicide, and is being tried as an adult. If convicted, she could face a maximum of 15 years behind bars, or if faced with the juvenile penalty, she would spend three years in juvy. Due to her immigration status, she could also face deportation back to Ukraine.
According to multiple outlets, she’s being held by police without bond. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as this case progresses. Reactions, Perezcious readers?
[Image via Broward County Sheriff’s Office.]
