8-year-old charged in beating death of 1-year-old

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An 8-year-old boy is being charged with beating a 1-year-old girl to death while they were left home alone as their mothers went to a nightclub, Alabama police said Tuesday.

The boy beat and killed 1-year-old Kelci Devine Lewis when she wouldn’t stop crying, Birmingham police spokesman Sean Edwards said. The mother of the toddler, 26-year-old Katerra Lewis, also is charged with manslaughter, he said.

“This is by far one of the saddest cases that I have witnessed and been a part of since I became a police officer,” Edwards said. “This type of irresponsibility on behalf of a parent is totally unacceptable.”

Police said a murder warrant has been obtained for the boy, who is now in the care of Alabama’s child welfare agency, the Department of Human Resources. His case will go through the family court system. There is no minimum age for prosecution in Alabama, said Tobie Smith, of the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham.

The 8-year-old was the oldest of six children left alone as his mother, who has not been charged or identified, and Katerra Lewis went to a nightclub on Oct. 11, Edwards said.

A woman who answered a call to a number listed for Lewis referred questions to attorney Emory Anthony.

“The only thing I can say at this time is to allow the process to play out,” Anthony said in an email. “I think there will be new information coming out at the hearing.”

A 6-year-old who was in the home told police what happened and the details were consistent with the toddler’s injuries, Edwards said.

Kelci Lewis suffered severe head trauma and major damage to her internal organs, Edwards said. Her body was found in her crib.

“I believe the 8 year-old is going to require some intense counseling for the next several years,” Edwards said. “It’s gonna take some extreme intervention.”

Smith, who is also co-director of the Southern Juvenile Defender Center, said she believes there “are going to be very serious questions about whether an 8-year-old has the rational capacity for the proceedings against him.”

“They’re gonna take a real look at whether maybe this is more a matter of parental culpability than child culpability,” Smith said.

Kim Dvorchak, executive director of the National Juvenile Defense Center, agreed.

“Children themselves are not really designed for a court system, and our court system — even our juvenile court systems — are not designed for very young children,” Dvorchak said.

Katerra Lewis’ Facebook profile photo Tuesday was an image of Kelci that had been printed on the back of a shirt. Another photo posted to her page showed that a fish fry fundraiser had been planned for Oct. 17 to cover Kelci’s funeral costs.

Court documents filed in June show that a judge ordered $388 for child-support payments to be withheld from the monthly income of a man identified as Timothy D. Pope. No one responded to messages left at phone numbers listed for Pope.

Katerra Lewis has posted $15,000 bond and is expected to appear in court Nov. 30, according to court documents.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A view of a homes in Edmonds, Washington on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County to mail property tax statements this month

First half payments are due on April 30.

Ticket and ORCA card kiosks at the Lynnwood Light Rail station on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Beginning March 1, Community Transit to reduce some fares

Riders eligible for reduced fares will pay $1 for a single ORCA card tap and $36 for a monthly pass.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)
Deception Pass Foundation seeks Adopt-A-Trail volunteers

If you’re looking for a way to get outside and… Continue reading

A pedestrian is struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. on Broadway.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.