A toddler aged three was tragically beaten to death by two cousins, boys aged 10 and 12, while their mothers were absent from the home, busy gambling at a casino.
The two young boys have been charged with murder following the incident. The toddler’s mother, Dineshia Yates, and Terice Scott, mother of the younger boy and aunt to the older boy, are implicated in the case. Both face charges of child neglect.
The tragic event took place on February 12 on O’Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The victim, three-year-old Blessing Buckles, sustained a brain bleed and had severe bruising on her face and body. This evidence points to the infliction of blunt force trauma by the two young suspects.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a distress call from a child at the residence about an unconscious child. Upon their arrival, they found no adults at the home.
The child who made the call was not sure of his location. This led deputies to start knocking on nearby doors. During this time, a car approached with its hazard lights on. The two women inside the vehicle mentioned they had just returned from a casino.
Scott and Yates, both 26, confessed to leaving the eight children, whose ages ranged from 11 months to 12 years, home alone while they gambled at the casino. At the time of the incident, Yates and her children were living with Scott and her family.
Young Blessing succumbed to her injuries two days later, on February 14, in the hospital. Medical staff verified the severity of her injuries.
Investigations revealed that Yates had previously observed bruising on at least one of her daughters after leaving her alone with the 12-year-old boy, who was known by Scott to exhibit violent behavior. Despite this, the two women allegedly continued to leave the children unattended for extended periods.
Scott has a previous criminal record, which includes charges of murder in 2021 and arson in 2023. Yates also has a history of arrests for theft and property damage.
The two young suspects face charges of battery and second-degree murder.
Sheriff Sid Gautreaux expressed his condolences to the family, stating that such tragic incidents are preventable. The Department of Children and Family Services has been informed about the situation, underscoring the importance of vigilance in protecting children from harm.
