14-year-old girl arrested for murder of grandmother in Lauderdale Lakes – NBC 6 South Florida

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested for the murder of her 79-year-old grandmother in Lauderdale Lakes, authorities said.

The teen faces a second-degree murder charge in the May 23 killing of Yevheniia Koval, 79, Broward Sheriff's Office officials announced Tuesday.

Deputies and fire crews had responded to an apartment on Northwest 41st Street after receiving a call of an unconscious woman.

They met with Koval's son, who said he had gone to visit a friend and left Koval with his 14-year-old daughter.

He said that when he returned, he found Koval unconscious on the ground with multiple bruises on her body, officials said.

Koval was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Homicide detectives responded to investigate and the Broward medical examiner's office ruled Koval's death a homicide.

The teenager was identified as a suspect in her grandmother's murder after being admitted to hospital on the day of the incident. She was taken into custody on Friday.

The granddaughter was taken to the juvenile assessment center. During the teen's court appearance, prosecutors said they intended to charge her as an adult, and the judge ordered her held until her next hearing.

The 14-year-old's father spoke to NBC6 off-camera. He described his mother as loyal, humble and protective of his family.

“The court notes that the child may be suffering from severe post-traumatic stress,” the judge read in court.

Ms. Johnson, who said her granddaughter and the 14-year-old played together, said the teenager often expressed how upset she was that her mother was not in South Florida.

“I was close enough to her to know she was a good kid,” Johnson said. “She was jumping up and down and said I wish my mom was here. I guess she doesn't have any papers to come here now.

Local residents were stunned to hear the news.

“You wouldn't expect something like this to happen in this community,” one neighbor said. “It’s his grandmother. Life is so short for all of us.