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Autopsy reveals murdered 20-month-old girl had fractured skull, bruises all over body

Posted at 11:04 PM, Aug 08, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-09 06:33:19-04

Norfolk, Va. - The autopsy of a 20-month-old girl reveals a fractured skull and numerous bruises on her tiny body. That’s according to a Norfolk search warrant, providing new insight into the infant's murder back in May.

The girl's caretaker, 24-year-old-Emily Defries, is charged with her murder.

Previous: Norfolk woman arrested, charged in death of 20-month-old girl

Police say Defries was dating the girl's father. On May 18th, investigators say she was watching the 20-month-old and two other children at her boyfriend’s home on Gregory Drive.

Defries told detectives the girl was sleeping most of the day and had checked on her several times, while her son and the victim’s older sister were playing outside in the backyard. When she came back inside the house, that’s when she says she found the infant girl unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs. Defries told police she must have fallen down.

However, court records say this was no accident; the little girl's injuries were clearly from physical abuse.

Defries called 911 that day. Paramedics rushed the 20-month-old to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later.

Defries is scheduled to be in court next month.