A 14-year-old girl taken into custody this May for the death of her 79-year-old grandmother has been charged as an adult with manslaughter, according to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office in Florida.
“Because of the heinous nature of the crime and after considering everything presented by the defense so far, I believe it is appropriate that this case should be handled in adult court,” said State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, per a Wednesday press release. “We are considering all options and working closely with her attorneys at the Broward Public Defender’s Office to come up with an appropriate resolution that holds her accountable but also factors in her age and the circumstances of this offense.”
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, its homicide unit arrested Sofia Koval in connection with the murder on May 23. It was around 12:26 a.m. when deputies arrived at Yevheniia Koval’s Lauderdale Lakes home. The 79-year-old was found unresponsive and transported to Broward Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
7 News Miami reported that “Koval allegedly admitted to striking her grandmother multiple times with a belt and later claimed she had helped her die.”
“According to detectives, an autopsy performed by the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the victim’s death a homicide,” said the sheriff’s office.
Authorities said the teen’s father (and the victim’s son) found his mother unresponsive with multiple bruises on her body. He said he went out to visit a friend and left his daughter with his mother at the residence.
“Through investigative methods, detectives identified the 14-year-old granddaughter as the suspect in the murder,” the sheriff’s office said. “The juvenile, who had been admitted into the hospital the day of the incident for medical clearance, was taken into custody on Friday, May 24 and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) for processing.”
In May, Sofia Koval faced one count of second-degree murder. Prosecutors formally filed the manslaughter charge against the teen Tuesday. She was moved from juvenile detention to the Broward County Jail. There, she will be held in protective custody.
A judge found probable cause for the charge and ordered Koval to be held without bond by agreement of the defense and prosecution during a Wednesday magistrate court appearance. While she was in court Wednesday, the teen could be seen praying, local news station WPLG reported.
She faces up to 15 years in prison but it is possible that she could be sentenced to juvenile sanctions in the juvenile justice system.
“In the juvenile system, anyone found guilty and sentenced would have to be released after a maximum of three years and could only be kept under supervision in the community until age 21,” the Broward County State Attorney’s office explained. “Because she is not a U.S. citizen, she could be subject to deportation.”
WPLG reported that the teen and her family are from Ukraine.
“Sofia Koval’s father and son of the victim said his mother was a sweet woman who never hesitated to help others,” said the report.
Neighbors also said the woman and her granddaughter appeared to have a normal relationship.
“It’s something out of character,” a neighbor said. “She’s been going through a lot because she wants her mom who is in the U.K. She can’t get over here.”
“At this young age, now she’s gonna be incarcerated,” said neighbor Desmond Silpatt. “Where is her future? What has she done and what was the reason to cause all of that to happen?”
According to the Juvenile Law Center, tens of thousands of children are incarcerated in youth prisons every day. It also said youth are routinely charged and prosecuted in the adult system, even though a separate system for minors has been established.
“Around 250,000 youth enter the adult criminal justice system each year, despite research showing treating youth as adults does not reduce crime,” said the JLC.
Broward State Pryor and a panel of senior prosecutors decided the case should be transferred to adult court after considering facts and evidence, said the state attorney’s office. Case documents available through the Broward County Clerk of Courts website indicate an arraignment hearing in the case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 9.