3-year-old girl dies after sexual assault, abuse, police say; stepfather, mother charged

ALBANY, Ga. — A 3-year-old Georgia girl died Saturday after what police described as a heinous sexual assault and beating.

The girl, identified by police as Janiyah Armanie Brooks, of Albany,  died at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at an Atlanta hospital, where she had been on a ventilator, WALB-TV reported.

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Update 7:15 p.m. EDT May 21: A GoFundMe account has been set up in the name of Janiyah Brooks, who died Saturday after a brutal attack and sexual assault.

So far, the fund has raised almost $4,000 of its $5,000 goal to help the family of the 3-year-old with burial expenses.

The girl's mother and stepfather were both arrested and are facing numerous charges in the case.

Update 10:15 a.m. EDT May 20: Janiyah was unresponsive when Albany police responded to her home one week ago. She had been severely beaten with injuries to her head, ribs and hands, according to police. She also had injuries to her vaginal area.

It wasn't the first time Janiyah had been hurt, an investigation by the agency's family protection unit and the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services found. An exam showed further evidence of old wounds, Albany police said in a news release.

Her parents called 911 around 7:30 a.m. May 13, but they did not disclose the nature of the problem with their daughter. Her stepfather, 20-year-old Gregory Parker, only told officers the girl was unconscious, police said.

Parker was arrested on Friday in connection with the assault. The next day, Janiyah died, WALB-TV reported.

Parker was initially arrested on charges of aggravated child molestation, rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated battery and first-degree cruelty to children. Police have not said if additional charges will be filed in light of his stepdaughter's death.

Original report: Albany police responded to the girl's home about 7:30 a.m. May 13 for an "unknown problem," the department said in a news release Friday. When officers arrived, Gregory Parker, 20, said his stepdaughter was "unresponsive," police said. Emergency personnel transported the girl to the hospital.

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Investigators said the girl "had been severely beaten and sexually assaulted," according to the news release.

"The child had injuries to her vaginal area, ribs, along with swollen hands and unknown trauma to her head," the release said. "She appeared to have old wounds, as well."

Parker, 20, was arrested and charged with rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated battery and first-degree child cruelty, authorities said. The girl's mother, 19-year-old Crystal Brooks, also faces charges of aggravated battery, battery, first-degree child cruelty and giving a false statement initially, police said.

Medical examiners will perform an autopsy on the child Monday, officials said.

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