You're watching WSoc tonight we're live at 11.
First Tonight we want you to take a look at this
beautiful beautiful little girl. Four year old MMA
Jelic young tomorrow marks one year since
investigators say they found her buried in the
backyard Of her home in Northwest Charlotte. They
believed that her mother killed her months earlier in
2020. Our Erica Jackson reflects on that case and
spoke with advocates about how to prevent child abuse
pictures. Shoma Jelic Young's bright eyes and big
smile. I uncovered more than 100 pages of court and
police documents that paint a different picture.
They're reporting that there's some concern that this
child may be dead. It says that first, um, that no one
has seen the child since 2020 C. M. P. D.
Investigators believe Magellan's mother Malika Bennett
killed her in 2020 And tried to cover it up. Police
didn't find her remains until May 2021. Magellan is 13
year old sister told detectives. Bennett punished
Majel IQ for soiling her pants. She said the four year
old was forced to stand in the laundry room for three
days before she fell and hit her head. The team told
investigators she helped her mom. Very Magellan's body
in the backyard of where they lived with six other
Children. The police have been trying to get in
contact with me. Um, so they can question me regarding
a missing persons. Report
to my daughter. Bennett has a history of run ins with
CMP di. Court documents show Bennett was arrested for
child abuse earlier in 2020 for leaving a child alone
for more than a day. Court documents reveal judges
disposed several cases involving Bennett where she was
charged with misdemeanor. Child abuse and contributing
to the delinquency of a minor Magellan's autopsy also
showed signs of malnutrition anytime there's trauma in
a family, it affects everybody in that family system
in some form or fashion. I found more than a dozen CMP
di reports dating back to 2017 where Bennett was
listed as a victim, she told C. M. P. D. Officers she
was assaulted and a victim of vandalism. In those
domestic related cases, several reports show she had a
restraining order against the suspect. Gayle smith
works with victims of domestic violence through her
nonprofit Dahlia Grove, she believes there can be a
correlation between domestic violence and child abuse
does affect their personality. It affects their
decision making, it affects the brain development, it
affects everything. Domestic violence and child abuse
are absolutely related. They're both forms of abuse.
They both have elements of power and control. Andrew
Oliver with Pat's place. Child advocacy center works
closely with C. MPD and victims of child abuse. Police
reports show Children were present during some of
these domestic disputes. Children can get caught up in
the middle of domestic violence. We know that if
domestic violence is occurring in the home, Children
witness it about half the time that it happens. That's
why, he says it's important to spot signs of domestic
abuse and child maltreatment. Oliver says you can act
as eyes and ears to protect the most vulnerable
victims. Child abuse happens in every single
neighborhood in every part of the town every single
day here in uptown trained professionals with child
abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault support
groups provide help at what's called the Survivor
Resource Center. It opened in 2021. A larger scale
center is in the works, which will provide walk and
services to survivors under one roof back to you
and we want you to know there are resources. If you
think child abuse is happening, there are two hotlines,
the number four prevent child abuse north Carolina 1,
800 Children and the national abuse hotline 1 804
child