RELEASE: District Attorney’s Office Files Homicide Charges Against Guardian Following Death of 4-Year-Old
CONTACT:
Jane Roh, District Attorney’s Office, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov
PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 12, 2019) — District Attorney Larry Krasner on Tuesday announced that Samilya Brown (DOB: 07/30/81) of Fairmount has been arrested and charged in the murder of 4-year-old Zya Singleton, who was in her care.
At the time Philadelphia Police were called to the scene on the afternoon of October 30, 2019, Brown falsely stated that Zya had fallen out of a second floor bedroom window after playing with a cat. Medical examination of the child at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, however, found inconsistencies with Brown’s account.
On November 3rd, 2019, Zya was pronounced dead. The Office of the Medical Examiner found additional evidence of abuse, including bite marks, open wounds to her face and scalp, cigarette and other larger burns to her left arm and thigh, puncture wounds, and signs of malnourishment.
In addition, evidence was found that Zya’s injuries had been treated with homemade stitches, which might have contributed to severe infection on the wound sites.
“This is a horrific, heartbreaking case of abuse, neglect, and murder of an innocent, defenseless child,” District Attorney Krasner said. “All children deserve care, protection, and love — no matter the circumstances of how they come into this world. I am grateful to the Philadelphia Police, especially Detectives Tracy Byard, Laura Hammond, and Vincent Strain; to the health care professionals involved in this case; and to Assistant District Attorney Chesley Lightsey for working to secure justice for Zya Singleton. I urge all members of the public to learn how to spot signs of child abuse, and encourage you to report suspected cases of abuse to authorities.”
Samilya Brown has been charged with Murder, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and other related charges.
Suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect can be reported to the Philadelphia Police at 215–686–8477/TIPS, to the District Attorney’s Office at 215–686–9608, to the Philadelphia Department of Human Services at 215–683–6100, or to the Pennsylvania ChildLine at 800–932–0313.
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of over 40,000 criminal cases annually.
