Shocking Case: PA Grandma Allegedly Leaves 3-Year-Old to Die After Beating!
A Pennsylvania woman, Denise Johnson, has been arrested after allegedly beating her 3-year-old granddaughter and then leaving her to die in bed, officials said.
Johnson, 56, faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, and abuse of a corpse. Authorities have not listed an attorney for Johnson in court records.
The incident unfolded on September 1 when Pittsburgh police received a call about a “suspicious death” at a home. When officers arrived around 11:30 a.m., they found the young girl, Ayla Miller, “cold to the touch.” Ayla had been under Johnson’s care for about a month and a half prior to the incident.
She was discovered with severe injuries, including marks on her neck and hip, bruises on her face and body, and a wound on her ankle that appeared to be a cigarette burn.
The criminal complaint details that Johnson admitted to hitting Ayla, which led to the child falling and hitting her head. Johnson reportedly stated that Ayla did not wake up afterward, and she was too frightened to seek help for two days.
In a phone conversation made after Ayla was found, Johnson allegedly confessed to punching Ayla in the face, causing her to fall, and expressed remorse.
Johnson claimed she put Ayla to bed and left her there until she passed away. Another child present at the home told police that they witnessed Johnson beating Ayla with a wooden stick until she could no longer move and then using a belt to continue the assault.
The shocking details have left the community devastated. Neighbor Lisa Propst expressed her heartbreak, emphasizing her deep care for children and how incidents like this are particularly upsetting.