Crime & Safety
Child Abuse Charge Now Upgraded to Murder as Victim Dies
A ninth-month old girl, the victim of an alleged aggravated child abuse case, has died a day after being brought to the hospital for her injuries. Clearwater police have upgraded the charge to murder in the first degree as a result
A nine-month old girl who was brought to Mease Countryside Hospital in what authorities claim was a case of child abuse had died a little more than a day after she initially received medical attention.
Aaliyah Siler, who was born this past January, was yesterday morning for treatment for injuries of blunt force trauma when medical personnel determined the injuries were consistent with abuse.
Clearwater police questioned and later arrested her caretaker, 22-year old Joesph Kenneth Oliver, Jr., of 2 N. Fernwood Ave. with aggravated child abuse when he admitted dropping the girl twice on the floor in a fit of rage because the girl would not stop crying.
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Siler had to be transported to St. Joseph's Childrens Hospital due to the severity of her injuries and was in critical condition last night. She passed away this afternoon.
As a result of her death, the charges against Oliver have been upgraded to murder in the first degree. He is being held in the Pinellas County jail on $100,000 bond.
