On September 12, a 40-year-old babysitter, Kristen Graham, was taken into custody in Virginia in connection with the death of an 11-month-old girl named Myrical.
York-Poquoson Sheriff, Ron Montgomery, announced that Graham is being charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The incident came to light when 80-year-old Paul Kudlaty arrived at a Newport News hospital, claiming there was a deceased child in his car. This claim was confirmed when hospital staff located the child’s body in a black garbage bag within the vehicle.
Graham, who was responsible for looking after the child, was subsequently identified and apprehended. The child was the daughter of 17-year-old Arianna Wicker.
Piecing together the events leading up to the discovery, officials noted that around 1 am, Graham received a call from a friend in Newport News who was caring for an elderly person. The friend requested cigarettes, so Graham left the house with the baby and a dog and went to a 711 store before visiting her friend and staying overnight. She returned to her home by 8 am, went into the house and fell asleep. Upon waking in the early afternoon, Graham found Myrical and the dog, both unresponsive, in her car. It was a particularly hot day in Seaford, with temperatures reaching 88 degrees.
In an unsettling turn, the child’s body was subsequently placed inside a garbage bag. At some point afterwards, Kudlaty transported the child to Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital. As of now, he isn’t facing any charges related to this incident.
A subsequent search at Graham’s residence revealed a deceased dog in a bathtub. During her interaction with the police, Graham mentioned she had consumed Gabapentin, a prescription medication for seizures and pain, before her trip to Newport News.
In a bid to support the grieving mother, Myrical’s maternal grandmother, Frances Spires, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs.
