New Jersey Parents Charged With Murder After Falsely Claiming Daughter Was Hit by Car
Authorities allege prolonged abuse led to the 9-year-old's death, contradicting the parents' initial account.
A New Jersey mother and stepfather have been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly lying to police about their 9-year-old daughter's death. India Miller, 27, and Sean Scott, 45, are accused of beating Maya Thomas to death and then fabricating a story that she had been struck by a car.
Prosecutors stated that Scott initially told 911 dispatchers that Maya had been walking the family dog when she was hit by a vehicle. Miller told police she heard a screeching noise before finding her daughter near a shed on their Paulsboro property. The child was rushed to a local hospital, but medical staff determined her injuries were inconsistent with a vehicular accident. Maya Thomas died later that evening.
An investigation revealed that surveillance video from the property did not show any traffic near the home during the time of the alleged incident. Furthermore, the child's four-year-old sibling reportedly told officers that Scott had hit Maya in her face.
An autopsy revealed that Maya died from multiple blunt force injuries, with her cause of death ruled a homicide. Prosecutors noted that the injuries were in various stages of healing, suggesting prolonged abuse. Among the injuries documented were blunt force trauma to both eyes, abrasions to her inner thigh and intimate areas, a ruptured colon, and multiple broken ribs.
Investigators also found wet, bloodied children's clothing in a bathtub at the residence, along with bloodstains on the tiles surrounding the tub and cleaning supplies. Both Miller and Scott are charged with first-degree murder, accomplice to murder, two counts of second-degree child endangerment, making a fictitious report to police, and hindering prosecution. They are being held at Salem County Jail.
Authorities are also investigating allegations of sexual abuse related to Maya's injuries. The state's Division of Child Protection and Permanency is involved in this aspect of the investigation. The girl's maternal grandmother, Lynn Miller, told reporters that she had raised Maya until she was seven in Las Vegas before her daughter moved to New Jersey. She claimed that Miller and Scott homeschooled Maya to prevent others from seeing her injuries and bruises. Miller and Scott appeared for a court hearing via video and are scheduled for another appearance later this month.