10-Year-Old Babysitter Formally Charged in Baby’s Death

State prosecutors in Maine have officially charged 10-year-old Kelli Murphy of Fairfield, Maine for the death of a 3-month-old baby that occurred in July.

Murphy is charged with reckless or criminally negligent manslaughter of 3-month-old Brooklyn Foss-Greenaway.

"The whole focus of the juvenile justice system and juvenile code is to provide treatment and care and be able to deal with the conduct recognizing the juvenile is a child," Deputy Attorney General William Stokes said. "The system is designed not to look at the punitive side of things."

The cause of the baby's death is not being released by the state. However, the baby's mother, Nicole Greenaway, has said she was told that the baby suffocated and that her face was covered with bruises. According to reports, Greenaway left her child in the care of Murphy’s mother, Amanda Huard. Huard then left the infant in the care of the 10-year-old even though she knew Murphy was not to be left alone with the baby.

According to DHHS documents, the girl was previously identified as a threat to other children. It is unclear whether Huard will face charges.

So we ask: