Woman Charged in 4-Year-Old's Murder

By Margaret Lyons in News on Feb 12, 2008 10:26PM

More details have emerged in the death of 4-year-old Chicagoan Demond Reed. Carla Cherisse Poole (pictured), 37, of Minneapolis, has been charged with second-degree intentional murder for killing her cousin's son. Poole had two of her own children, 6 and 4, hold Reed down while she beat him to death.

[Poole's 11-year-old daughter] told police Saturday that her mother had "spanked" Demond after he soiled his pants. The girl said he had a seizure and began vomiting. She said his health deteriorated over the next several hours, and that Poole discussed calling 911 but decided against it because she was afraid.

Demond then stopped breathing, and Poole's efforts to revive him with CPR failed. The 11-year-old said Poole put a blanket over the boy and left him on a bed for about two days before stashing him in a closet.

Charges against Poole may be upgraded to first-degree murder, police say, if there's enough evidence to prove premeditation. [CBS2]