Ohio Children Charged With Attempted Murder and Rape After Brutal Attack on 5-Year-Old Girl

CLEVELAND, OHIO — A horrifying case in Cleveland has led to attempted murder and rape charges against two children — a 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy — accused of viciously attacking a 5-year-old girl, leaving her beaten, scalped, and struggling to survive in a field.

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, both children face multiple charges including attempted murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, and strangulation. Prosecutors described the case as “deeply disturbing” and unlike anything they have seen involving such young suspects.

“Based on the evidence we have currently reviewed, two juveniles have been initially charged,” the prosecutor’s office said Wednesday.

A 5-Year-Old Left for Dead in a Field

The attack occurred on September 13, when the victim’s mother, Antavia Kennibrew, left her daughter in the care of a family member in Cleveland. Investigators said the 5-year-old wandered out of the house unnoticed and was approached by a group of older children under the age of 10, who appeared friendly at first.

Police say the children lured the girl to a field away from nearby homes, where they beat her, ripped her hair out, and sexually assaulted her. The victim was allegedly strangled with her own shirt and left unconscious and naked.

“They held my daughter down as they raped her,” Kennibrew said in a public statement. “They shoved sticks down her throat and strangled her until she passed out.”

Kennibrew rushed to the scene after being alerted by relatives and found emergency responders treating her daughter, who had suffered severe injuries to her scalp, mouth, and eyes.

“These Are Not Normal Kids,” Mother Says

The victim’s mother said she could hardly recognize her child after the assault.

“Her hair was scalped from her head,” Kennibrew told local station WOIO. “She had bruises and blood all over her body. Her eyes were filled with blood, and there was dirt and debris under her nails.”

Kennibrew believes several more children were involved in the attack and has called for all participants and their parents to be held accountable.

“These are not normal kids,” she said. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”

Police Investigation Continues

The Cleveland Division of Police Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit confirmed that multiple children under 10 were identified as suspects in the assault. While only two have been charged so far, detectives said more charges could follow as the investigation continues.

Police said forensic evidence and witness interviews supported the victim’s account, and the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court will determine how the charges will proceed given the suspects’ ages.

The 5-year-old girl is now receiving ongoing medical care and trauma therapy. Family members say she faces a long road to recovery both physically and emotionally.

Community Demands Justice

The case has stunned Cleveland residents and drawn nationwide attention due to the young ages of the suspects and the brutality of the crime. Child welfare advocates have called for mental health evaluations and stricter parental oversight, while prosecutors maintain that the charges reflect the severity of the attack.

Kennibrew expressed gratitude for the community’s support and vowed to continue fighting for justice for her daughter.

“I pray all the kids involved are prosecuted,” she wrote. “My baby didn’t deserve this.”

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