CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A Conway woman is charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of a 3-year-old girl taken to Grand Strand Medical with severe head injuries Wednesday morning.
Conway Police say Alicia Kasper was caring for three-year-old Jada Strange, when Jada was taken to the hospital and medical staff deemed the little girl to be in critical condition.
Agcording to Sgt. Darren Alston with Conway Police, hospital staff alerted police, who then contacted the Department of Social Services to investigate the case.
On Thursday, Jada was declared brain-dead and passed away that evening. Police charged Kasper after getting the autopsy results from MUSC. Police add that Kasper was dating the little girl’s father, and the couple shared a home with Jada.
News13 spent Monday afternoon, with the little girl’s maternal aunt and grandmother. They shared videos and pictures of Jada laughing and playing from just a few months ago. They say the family went to the emergency room as soon as they found out Jada was in critical condition.
The family was distraught on hearing the news. Jada’s grandmother was too upset to speak with News13 on camera, but Jada’s aunt, Loraine Beaty, spoke about the innocent victim before beginning to cry.
PHOTO GALLERY: View photos of beautiful baby Jada shared by her family
“It breaks my heart. My niece was only three, and her birthday is right around the corner,” said Beaty, before breaking down in tears.
Beaty says Jada would come over to her house and play, and she was talking to Jada’s father about setting up a visit just two days before Jada ended up at the hospital.
“I really wish I would have got my niece when I wanted to, a couple of days before, when I said I wanted to get her. I wish I had got her then,” said Beaty.
She says an incident like this should be a wake up call to all parents. “Be careful who watches your kids, watch your kids very closely, with abusers and everything. You don’t know who you think you know.”
Visitation and memorial services for Jada are planned for Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. at Watson Funeral Services Chapel in Conway.
