MIAMI (WKRC) – A 7-year-old girl testified on Wednesday, accusing her babysitter of seriously beating her during English lessons.
The girl accused Leonor Garcia, 65, of beating her with a metal spoon and remote control during the lessons.
The alleged abuse, which occurred on July 29, 2023, led to emergency surgery for a brain bleed. Garcia is officially on trial in Miami for child abuse with great bodily harm.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Garcia called the girl’s mother around 8 p.m. to report an injury from “cartwheels,” prompting a hospital visit. Doctors discovered a subdural hematoma and performed surgery to drain fluid from the girl’s brain, according to WPLG.
The girl later told detectives Garcia beat her at least 13 times with various objects for incorrect translations from Spanish to English. Garcia allegedly instructed the girl to blame her injuries on a fall, calling it a “lie,” according to Law and Crime.
“I tried to cry, but she would tell me not to because if I cried she would tell me she was going to hit me,” the girl said. “One time she threatened me with, like, pliers, and if I told my mother anything, she was going to pull my eye out.”
The girl also suffered a black eye and bruises on her shoulder. Dr. Walter Lambert, a pediatrician, testified that the injuries were inconsistent with a fall.
“Our opinion was that it was physical abuse,” said Dr. Lambert.
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