Police: Girl, 5, taken from home, beaten, left in yard
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF)- Police believe an intruder took a 5-year-old girl from her North Philadelphia home overnight Tuesday and kicked her until she was semiconscious. Police are describing this as a single incident.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare," said the victim's mother, Vyenka Hopkins.
Captain John Darby of the Special Victims unit says that the mother discovered the girl was missing from her bed and soon found her in the yard. According to police, 5-year-old Cynia was found Tuesday morning with a broken jaw, skull fractures and abdominal bruises. She is in stable condition at a hospital.
Police believe the attacker entered the house through a first floor window. The girl told police that she got up during the night and was walking in the hallway when a man came from behind the closet door, took her and carried her outside of the property, according to police. She stated that the man began to kick and punch her. According to Darby, the semiconscious child was dumped by the home.
Vyneka has a message for whoever did this to her little girl.
"Turn yourself in. You have to be accountable in this world or the next," she said.
Police say the girl was not sexually assaulted. Police say they interviewed a man they believe is homeless and may have family ties to the neighborhood. He has not been charged. They're asking the public to call them if anyone knows anything.