PAW PAW (WKZO AM/FM) — A Paw Paw woman has been charged with the torture murder of a 3-year-old girl.
31-year-old Kate George, the step mother of the child, whose name was not released, has been charged with Felony Murder and First Degree Child Abuse.
Her mugshot shows her wearing a vest designed to prevent attempts to harm herself.
Interim Post Commander, Sgt. Melissa Bernum says they were dispatched to a home in Almena Township on Tuesday on a call that a child had stopped breathing.
They found the child unresponsive. The MSP Crime Lab was dispatched.
An autopsy on the young victim was conducted Wednesday at WMU Med.
Family members have been told that the young girl had been strapped into a car seat, had a sock stuffed in her mouth, and her mouth taped over. They say she died from suffocation and had been dead for some time before police were finally called.
Two other children in the home, who appeared to be in good health were removed by Child Protective Services.
George has been ordered held on $5-million bond.
Family members say they complained to Child Protective Services when they saw signs of abuse on the child, but they failed to intervene.
