A Kentucky couple is facing charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence in the death of a 4-year-old girl. The couple, Brittany Slaughter and Adam Hayes, were arrested last week after Chloe Darnel's body was found.
Authorities say that Slaughter and Hayes had a history of physically abusing Chloe. Slaughter is Chloe's cousin and had custody of the child when she died.
Slaughter allegedly told police that Chloe died in August after falling off a shelf in her bedroom. She reportedly did not seek medical attention because she was high on illegal narcotics at the time.
Hayes also reportedly told authorities that the child's death was an accident.
Testimony revealed that Hayes was the primary disciplinarian in the relationship and would physically abuse Chloe for doing things typical of a 4-year-old, such as soiling or wetting herself.
A preliminary autopsy could not determine the cause or manner of Chloe's death. However, the exam did reveal that the child suffered multiple fractures to her skull and had ribs that were both fractured and separated.
Prosecutors are still trying to determine when Chloe suffered the fractures. This information will essentially determine whether the couple will ultimately be charged with killing Chloe in an "intentional" or "wanton" manner.
Slaughter is currently being held on $250,000 bond while Hayes is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond.
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