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Posted on Thu, Mar. 28, 2002 |
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Baby sitter arrested in girl's death
HURST - Police arrested a 38-year-old baby sitter on suspicion of capital murder Wednesday in the death last week of 21-month-old Karrin Broadus of Fort Worth.
Donna Brazzell of Hurst was arrested in the morning at the Hurst police station, where she was being interviewed about the child's death, police Lt. Steve Moore said.
He said she was being held on $150,000 bail at the Hurst Jail. Moore said that Brazzell will be arraigned today and that police plan to present the case to the Tarrant County district attorney's office this week.
Under Texas law, a suspect in the death of a child younger than 6 can be charged with capital murder.
The girl's father, Darrin Broadus, 28, left the toddler overnight with Brazzell at a Hurst apartment complex, police said. When Broadus picked up the child the next morning, she was bruised and went into seizures. She later died at a Fort Worth hospital, police said.
Moore said the Tarrant County medical examiner's report led police to arrest Brazzell. He said the girl died of "massive injuries" to her head. An autopsy was performed Saturday, he said.
One of Brazzell's children, a 2-year-old, has been placed in temporary foster care, said Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services. Another child whose age was not available remains with an adult custodian, Meisner said.
Janet Martin, who lives a few doors down from Brazzell in Aspen Square Apartments, said Brazzell kept to herself.
"You'd say 'hi' in passing. That was about it," Martin said.
Broadus also lived at the apartment complex until several weeks ago, Martin said. Neither he nor the toddler's mother could be reached Wednesday for comment. The family has two other children.
Broadus, a fast-food cook in Hurst, dropped Karrin off before he went to work about 10 p.m. Thursday and picked her up Friday morning, police said. He put Karrin in a stroller and walked to a convenience store for help.
Sherry Holland of Arlington said Wednesday that she called 911 when Broadus appeared at the store Friday morning with his daughter.
Holland said the child's head was bruised and she was unconscious.
"It looked like somebody beat the living tar out of that child," Holland said. "No child deserves that."
Karrin was pronounced dead at Cook Children's Medical Center hours after paramedics treated her near the store, police said.
Before Friday, Hurst police had not been called to the Brazzell's apartment, according to police records.
CPS spokeswoman Stacey Ladd said last week that Brazzell was not licensed to watch children.
According to court records, Brazzell had an earlier brush with authorities.
She was arrested for possession of a dangerous drug in 1993 in Dallas County, according to court records. She pleaded guilty, paid a $400 fine and served 60 days in jail.
John Kirsch (817) 685-3805 jkirsch@star-telegram.com
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