Crime

14-year-old girl, who said her 79-year-old grandmother was “already dying” and she “helped her die” after beating the woman to death using a walker and a belt, will be tried as an adult

Florida – In a deeply unsettling case from Florida, a 14-year-old girl, identified as S. Koval, faces charges as an adult for the fatal beating of her 79-year-old grandmother. The incident occurred in May, just after the teenager had reunited with her father in the United States amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Koval had only recently joined her father in Florida following her grandmother’s move to live with them due to her ailing health. The family tragedy unfolded on May 23, when Koval’s father left her in the care of his mother while he visited a friend. Upon returning, he discovered the horrific scene—his mother had been brutally beaten and was suffering from multiple injuries.

Authorities detailed that during the fatal encounter, the elderly woman sustained extensive injuries, including 15 abrasions to her neck and face, marks to her hands, arms, and legs, and severe internal injuries leading to a brain bleed. An autopsy later confirmed her death as a homicide.

During a court appearance, it was decided that Koval would face manslaughter charges as an adult—a shift from the initial second-degree murder charge. This decision allows for a wider range of sentencing options, potentially extending up to 15 years if convicted. However, given her age, alternative juvenile sanctions could be applied, limiting confinement to a maximum of three years, followed by community supervision until the age of 21.

On the evening of the attack, the arrest report reveals a disturbing account of the incident. Koval reportedly defended her actions by claiming her grandmother had scratched her, prompting her to retaliate with a belt and grandmother’s walker. The altercation escalated to a fatal confrontation, after which Koval expressed remorse, crying and apologizing for her actions.

In a particularly chilling detail, Koval allegedly mentioned to someone in Ukrainian during the aftermath that her grandmother was “already dying” and she “had helped her die.” This statement, as reported, reflects a severe misunderstanding or a grave indication of her mental state at the time.

The father attributed his daughter’s violent behavior to the trauma she suffered from witnessing war in Ukraine and the separation from her mother, who remains in the U.K. The arrest report suggests Koval may have been experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the killing, noting her agitated and aggressive demeanor.

The complexities of Koval’s psychological condition, her recent migration to the U.S., and the traumatic experiences she endured are likely to play a significant role in the legal proceedings. With Koval not being a U.S. citizen, her future in the country hangs in balance as she faces possible deportation following the resolution of her case.

The victim’s family is left grappling with the shock of the tragedy. A family friend described the incident as out of character for the teenager, emphasizing the emotional challenges Koval faced due to her separation from her mother and the war back home.

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