PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia woman accused of beating a 3-year-old child to death in 2022 has pleaded no contest to murder charges.
Kiana Casey faced third-degree murder and aggravated assault charges, as well as endangering the welfare of children and making a false report.
The 31-year-old pleaded no contest to the first two charges. Prosecutors dropped the latter offenses.
Three-year-old Hope Jones, who was taken from her family at 15 months old and placed into foster care at Casey’s Southwest Philadelphia home, was found dead in July 2022. Casey claimed the little girl fell down the stairs.
However, the medical examiner said 70% of the young girl’s body was covered in injuries, both old and new — including bruises on her head, stomach, legs and arms; broken ear cartilage; old and new broken ribs; and internal injuries.
Casey was charged in October 2022. A former caseworker, Jendayi Mawusi, was also charged but was acquitted in November of child endangerment charges. A lower court had tossed the most serious charges at a preliminary hearing after learning two doctors who had seen the toddler also did not report the injuries.
Casey’s attorney, Walter Chisholm, said Casey pleaded no contest to resolve the matter in the best interest of all parties. The plea still holds the same sentencing guidelines as a guilty plea.
Casey is set to be sentenced in March.
Editor’s update, July 3, 2024
In March 2024, Kianna Casey was sentenced to eight to 20 years behind bars.