Maine girl, 10, facing homicide charges in infant's death

SKOWHEGAN, Maine The youngest person to be charged with homicide in Maine in at least 30 years was due to make her first appearance Monday in District Court.

A 10-year-old girl was charged with juvenile manslaughter in the death of 3-month-old Brooklyn Foss-Greenaway, who was staying overnight in the girl's home in Fairfield in the care of the girl's mother.

The girl's mother called police early on July 8 to report that the infant was not breathing, authorities said. The infant, who was reportedly fussy, was sleeping in a portable crib in the 10-year-old's bedroom that night, said the infant's mother, Nicole "Nicki" Greenaway, of Clinton.

The state hasn't released the cause of death, but Greenaway was told that her daughter ingested medication and was suffocated.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which removed the young suspect from the home, faulted the baby sitter for leaving the infant in the room with the girl. In a letter, an agency case worker said the 10-year-old had a behavior disorder that made her unsuitable for caring for the infant.

The Associated Press generally does not identify juveniles accused of crimes.

The state opted not to try the girl as an adult. If convicted as a juvenile, the maximum penalty is incarceration until age 21.

Maine District Court Chief Judge Charles LaVerdiere issued a special order warning that no recording device of any type was allowed in the courtroom Monday.

[BonnieW1974]

Maybe it was the 10 year olds mother who killed the baby and is blaming it on the 10 year old so the mother doesn't go to prison. People are crazy now a days and it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case here. She probably put a pillow on the baby so she didn't have to hear it crying and then said her 10 year old did it thinking they wouldn't go any further with it because shes only a baby herself.

[margroks]

If the ten year-old was known to be vicious she definitely needs to be housed somewhere where she can be kept from housing others. But what exactly happened? That is unclear. If she is known to be violent and harms others deliberately, then parents should be responsible but she should be charged with something.

[estelle79]

"In a letter, an agency case worker said the 10-year-old had a behavior disorder that made her unsuitable for caring for the infant."
WHOA-what am I missing; Why would an agency even be evaluating a 10 year old for her capability to care for an infant.
ARE THESE PEOPLE CRAZY!!

[Xbeing]

She was removed from the home, which means she would have been put in the care of Services for Children and Families.

Typically, they do an evaluation to determine placement options, even temporary ones.

The only other alternative would be to put a 10 yr old in juvenile detention, but she still would have received a psych evaluation.

[farbarb]

The State "opted not to charge her as an adult". Is this even an option for a 10 year old? I should hope not.

[Xbeing]

There are previous cases where kids (slightly) older were, but they showed they purposely and viciously sought to kill.

[lookinforbalance]

Clearly, This is not the 10-year-old's fault. In my opinion, the courts should note the incident in her sealed records on the off chance history repeats itself, but the parent should be charged, not the child.

[linfinster]

You're an idiot David. I understand you are frustrated by what appears to be a lapse of judgment in this case. I too am troubled that we can charge a 10 yr old with murder .. I too think that her parent should be held responsible and charged. But to insult all of us Mainers because of how the criminal process is dealing with this case is just ignorance . . shame on you.