when Damya Jefferson was stabbed twice in the chest, authorities said.
Damya's mother, Tiara Jefferson, 17, went to earn extra Christmas money Friday by braiding hair. She left Damya and her 2-month old sister in the care of a friend's mother, Detress Richmond, a mother of at least 13 children.
death. The children had been left in the care of a 15-year-old baby sitter, who was in the home's downstairs while the children were upstairs, said Senior Cpl. Janice Crowther of the Dallas Police Department.
"She was the one responsible for my kids," Jefferson said of Richmond. "It was the mother's fault because she wasn't there."
Richmond couldn't be located for comment.
around 10 p.m. Friday.
Damya died by the time she reached the hospital, Crowther said.
No charges have been filed so far, Crowther said Sunday.
p.
m. Friday, when she called the home and Richmond didn't answer. A child who answered said Damya had a nose bleed that wouldn't stop, Jefferson said.
Things seemed chaotic, and Jefferson's phone calls to the home were disconnected several times. It wasn't until she arrived that she realized something had happened, Jefferson said.
children, including the 9-year-old accused in the stabbing.
The 11 children range in age from 6 to 15, CPS spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said Sunday.
CPS has received calls about Richmond's household before, mostly dealing with neglectful supervision and having an unclean house, Gonzales said.
The agency also took custody of Jefferson's 2-month-old.
"From the investigators at the scene, it didn't appear that it was a safe environment for them based on what happened," said CPS spokeswoman Chris Van Dusen.
Now, Jefferson thinks Richmond left to play bingo and blames her for leaving the home full of children. But she also thinks the daughter's death, Jefferson said.
"He should know better," she said. "He's old enough to know better. She was only 2 years old.
"
this weekend. It included a doll dressed in pink, stuffed animals, pink balloons and a large card.
"From your dad," the card read.
"He will never forget you. (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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