Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
A Pennsylvania woman is facing murder charges in the death of her 5-year-old daughter after she allegedly shoved the child down a flight of stairs on Halloween night, according to a Monday report from NBC10. Amatulah “Amy” McLaughlin died from the brain injuries she sustained in the fall, after suffering what investigators claim was over a year of abuse from her mother, Ciara Robinson. “This little girl was severely abused, culminating in her death,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. “No child should have to live like this. Our hearts are broken by the death of an innocent child.” The day after Amy’s death, Robinson told police that she had punched and slapped the girl before her fatal fall, although she denied pushing her. Police claim, however, that they could hear Robinson yelling, “I wish I never pushed her down the (expletive) steps,” while she waited in a holding cell.
Robinson’s friend also told police that the 25-year-old called her before calling 911, and said, “I knocked Amy out [...] She won’t wake up [...] I’m going to jail.” Robinson’s other child, a 2-year-old boy, has been seized by child protective services. She was arraigned on a litany of counts including third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault. “The loss of any child is a tragedy,” the district attorney said. “However, it is horrific that a parent would inflict such sustained and brutal damage to her own daughter.”