Portsmouth, Va. - A 21-year-old Portsmouth mother has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death of her 18-month-old daughter.
Portsmouth Police and medics were called to the 2000 block of Queen Street around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 18th in response to a 911 call for a child not breathing.
The 18-month-old girl was found unresponsive at the home. Medics began life saving techniques on the child and transported her to a local hospital where she was placed on life-support.
She was taken off life-support on Monday and later died.
Detectives continued their investigation into the case and as a result they have charged the child's mother, 21-year-old Joy T. Brown with first degree murder.
Family and friends of Brown say it was all an accident, claiming the child fell down stairs. "[Brown] turned her back for a few seconds and next thing you know she fell. My daughter was a clutz, you know," said Kevin Stevenson, the father. "I don't want no harm to [Brown] because that still is the mother of my daughter, and I'm going to defend her till the end."
Brown is currently in the custody of the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office.
