A mother has been charged with first-degree murder after the remains of her 4-year-old daughter were found behind a home in north Charlotte on Friday.
Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are working the investigation near the 3700 block of Braden Drive in the North Division.
Detectives responded to to the scene to investigate reports that a 4-year-old girl had not been seen in several months. Police say they received several tips and “evidence that indicated foul play might have been involved.”
Crime Scene technicians were called to the scene where they recovered human remains believed to belong to the missing girl, Majelic Young.
Detectives interviewed several people that voluntarily came to the Law Enforcement Headquarters throughout the day, including the mother of Majelic, Malikah Diane Bennett. At the conclusion of the interview, detectives say they identified Bennett as the suspect in the case but declined to elaborate further.
Bennett was arrested and transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s office and charged with Felony Child Abuse, Inflicting Physical Injury, Felony Concealing a Death, and 1st Degree Murder.
“But to think about this baby being in that shallow grave for nine months with no one knowing where she’s at,” said Lucille Puckett, a friend. “The torment of that baby, and the torment of this family right here. They asked the mother where she was, and the mother gave no answer.”
