Two Children, 9 and 10, Charged with Attempted Murder and Rape in Brutal Attack on 5-Year-Old Girl
Authorities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, have filed serious charges against two children, ages 9 and 10, in connection with the brutal attack of a 5-year-old girl last month in Cleveland.
Prosecutors say the pair face initial charges of attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation after the young child was attacked outside a family member’s home on September 13.
According to the affected child’s mother, Antavia Kennibrew, she had dropped her daughter off at a relative’s home, and somehow the child wandered outside, where the assault occurred.
She described finding her daughter severely injured, with scalp injuries, bruises, and blood over her body, saying the sight was “unbelievable.”
The 5-year-old is now receiving physical and psychological therapy as she continues to recover. Police have not released further details, given the ages of those involved, and the investigation remains ongoing.
While the alleged act is horrific, it’s important to remember that children in conflict with the law are entitled to special protection under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
This includes the right to due process, rehabilitation, and treatment appropriate to their age and development, rather than punishment intended for adults.
At the same time, the affected child of sexual and physical violence has the right to protection, recovery, and reintegration in a safe environment, free from further harm.
This case underscores the urgent need for stronger community safeguards, trauma-informed interventions, and early prevention programs that protect all children from cycles of violence and neglect.
