D.C. police arrested a mother in the death of her 16-month-old daughter and alleged abuse of her two other children, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced Wednesday.
Faneshia Scott, 28, of Washington, D.C., was arrested Tuesday on two counts of first-degree felony murder with aggravating circumstances and seven counts of first-degree cruelty to children. She was indicted March 20 by a grand jury in Superior Court.
Police and D.C. Fire and EMS received a report March 21, 2017, of a 16-month-old child unconscious and not breathing. When they arrived, the child had been dead for at least three hours, according to the state's attorney.
Rhythm Fields, died of blunt force trauma, according to the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She'd suffered 23 rib fractures — old and new — contusions and abrasions of the head, neck torso and extremities, and a subdural hemorrhage, according to the statement.
Scott also gave her daughter cough syrup not intended for children 12 and younger, according to the statement.
Scott was also indicted on seven counts of first-degree cruelty to children for allegedly causing various injuries, administering the cough syrup, failing to obtain medical treatment for Rhythm and beating her two other children.
The charges carry a potential sentence of life in prison, with no possibility of release.
