In North Carolina’s Halifax County, a young woman named Kaneijah Zyir Bradley, 22, was arrested on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, under suspicion of murdering her 10-year-old sister. The crime reportedly took place at their family residence located on Beaverdam Road near Enfield.
According to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the home around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, January 15, after receiving a distress call from a mother who had reported her 10-year-old daughter, Mashiyah Squire, missing.
Upon the officers’ arrival, they found the mother had discovered her daughter’s body in the backyard, partially in a garbage bag within a dumpster. It was immediately apparent to the officers that the child was deceased.
Further analysis revealed that the child had suffered several stab wounds. Based on evidence at the scene, authorities suspect the stabbing occurred within the family home before the body was moved outside. Dark stains were discovered in the girl’s bedroom, and two knives, a vacuum cleaner, and disinfectant were collected as evidence. While the victim’s identity was not initially revealed, it was later confirmed that she was Bradley’s younger sister.
Bradley was rapidly identified as the main suspect in the case and taken into custody. She is now being held without bond at the Halifax County Detention Center, with her first court appearance set for January 25.
“This is such a sad incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” said Sheriff Tyree Davis. The local community is still reeling from the shocking event, with neighbor Bernard Day expressing his disbelief, “We’ve never heard of anything like this in our neighborhood.”
This incident adds to Bradley’s existing criminal record. She faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury and larceny of a motor vehicle in April 2023.
In August of the same year, Bradley was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon against a government official, as well as a misdemeanor for resisting a public officer. These previous run-ins with the law suggest a pattern of violent behavior.
The motive behind the alleged murder is still undetermined, and the sheriff’s office continues to investigate the case. Authorities are urging anyone with information that could help clarify the circumstances surrounding this case to come forward.
