A 13-year-old girl in Taylor, Michigan is reportedly facing murder charges after allegedly stabbing her 7-year-old sister to death while babysitting.
On Saturday, Sept. 28 at around 1 p.m. local time, the Taylor Police Department responded to reports of a possible stabbing, per outlets including WXYZ, FOX 2 Detroitand CBS Detroit.
Officers responded to the incident in the area of Telegraph and Chestnut and the 7-year-old was taken to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries, per the Detroit News.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim’s injuries were allegedly inflicted by her 13-year-old sister,” police said, according to the outlet. Officers haven’t released the identities of the family involved.
FOX 2 Detroit reported the 13-year-old is now facing several charges including first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, and first-degree child abuse, citing the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and the Taylor Police Department didn’t immediately respond when contacted.
Generic image of police tape hanging across a street.
Larry W. Smith/Getty
Per FOX 2 Detroit, the girls’ parents left them at home at around 11:15 a.m. that day and the older sister was babysitting. Detective Zachary DiGiacomo said the argument “stemmed from a note that was placed in the bathroom” about “flushing the toilet,” the outlet reported.
He said the victim — who was reportedly stabbed multiple times with a butcher’s knife and hunting knife, per police — had “over 10 stab wounds ranging from the abdomen to the head, to the neck,” FOX 2 Detroit stated.
“All I can say is, it’s shocking, and it’s very tragic,” the officer added, according to the outlet.
DiGiacomo didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Per WXYZ, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the 13-year-old won’t be tried as an adult in the case and will be kept in the juvenile system due to her age.
“The State would have seven years to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate her until her mandatory release at age 21. Hopefully, then, she would not be a danger to others. While this is a difficult decision, given these facts, it is the right thing to do in this case,” Worthy said, according to the outlet.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the facts in this case are horrific. It is beyond disturbing that the alleged person responsible for the stabbing death of her seven-year-old sister is thirteen years old,” Wayne also said, per CBS Detroit.
Detective DiGiacomo claimed the parents had told police the sisters had just had “normal sibling arguments” before now, per FOX 2 Detroit. “Growing up as kids, you argue with your siblings all the time, but it doesn’t lead to this,” he said.
“She was very calm and just showed no emotion,” he also said of the older sister facing charges, per the outlet.
Neighbor Julie Pagoto paid tribute to the victim, per WXYZ, calling her the “sweetest little girl.”
“It was just a very tragic day, a very tragic day for us,” Pagoto said, per the outlet. “She used to walk up and down the street every day, riding her bike… stopping and talking to neighbors.”
