Baby Sitter Charged in Death of Toddler
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A woman who took care of a 2-year-old Los Angeles girl found dead last week has been charged with the child’s murder.
Ruthie Mae Justice was taken into custody Tuesday after her release from a mental clinic she had admitted herself to on Friday, the same day the body of 2-year-old Jaq Marie Pope was found under Justice’s South-Central Los Angeles home. Authorities said the toddler died of a blow to the head.
Justice, 56, was charged with murder, assault on a child causing death and child abuse. The baby sitter cared for Jaq and her younger brother during the week, while their grandmother, who had custody of Jaq, took them on the weekends.
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