Michigan mom arrested for allegedly beating daughter, 8, to death as she believed her to be possessed
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WAYNE, MICHIGAN: A Michigan mother was arrested on Saturday, March 16, following allegations that she fatally beat her 8-year-old daughter, believing the child to be possessed by demons.
When police arrived at a residence in Wayne, they reportedly found 8-year-old Lyla Cassel suffering from severe head and neck swelling, along with severe bruises.
According to WDIV, the girl died in a hospital, and it is believed that her 30-year-old mother, Chelsea Duperon, had beaten her three days earlier.
Lyla Cassel's mother did not take her to hospital after hitting her
Duperon reportedly admitted to hitting her daughter a few days before her death, despite initially claiming that her daughter had fallen down the stairs.
She further stated that she couldn't recall the incident; however, WWJ claims that her daughter informed her about it.
It is alleged that Cassel's mother informed her boyfriend that her daughter was possessed. The boyfriend claimed that last week, when he arrived home from work, he found Duperon's daughter "all swoled up" on the kitchen floor.
He picked up the girl and put her to bed, but according to WJBK, he didn't take her to the hospital because he didn't know what to do, and she wasn't his daughter.
Authorities indicated that they believe Cassel would still be alive today if she had received treatment sooner. Despite her condition, Duperon opted to purchase diapers for her instead of seeking medical attention at the hospital, as reported by WJBK.
When Duperon's boyfriend carried her daughter to bed, he reportedly told WWJ that she was talking and responsive. According to reports, the girl informed him that Duperon attacked her while she was listening to music.
The girl attempted to hide herself, but her mother deceived her into coming out of hiding, and then proceeded to attack her while dousing her in water.
Chelsea Duperon faces several charges
According to WXYZ, Duperon also informed her boyfriend that her daughter had been attacked by an unidentified ghost or spirit in the basement a few days prior to her death.
According to the police, Duperon had alcohol problems and would drink and drive with her daughter in the car.
The eight-year-old girl died from blunt force trauma to the head, as determined by the findings of the Wayne County Medical Examiner.
“The pictures reflect a child that does not even look like a child. The massive amount of swelling to her head and her face, she was completely unrecognizable,” prosecutor Erin Wilmoth said.
Duperon is scheduled to appear in court again on March 25. She faces charges of first-degree child abuse and felony murder. She remains detained without bond.
