UPDATE: Autopsy results released Friday show that 4-year-old Mariya Owens died from severe blunt force abdominal injuries due to assault.
According to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office, an autopsy conducted on December 26th showed severe blunt force injury to Owen’s abdomen, as well as blunt force injuries to her head. The ME says that multiple internal hemorrhages in the abdomen and fractures to the lower spine due to severe blunt force trauma resulted in Owens’ death.
You can read the full report here: Mariya Owens’ Autopsy
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[Original post from December 27, 2016]
CHARLOTTE, NC — Police have charged a man they say murdered a 4-year-old girl in southeast Charlotte on Christmas Eve.
Investigators say 26-year-old Demarcus Heath has been charged with the murder of 4-year-old Mariya Owens.
According to reports, Owens was found unresponsive around 9:30pm on December 24th at her home on Timber Commons Lane. Medic took Owens to Novant Health Matthews Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
Detectives say an investigation and consultation with the Medical Examiner’s Office showed that Owens was physically assaulted, which led to her death.
Officials say Heath was voluntarily interviewed by investigators and then charged with Owens’ murder.
