Bangor, Maine – Disturbing new details have emerged in the tragic death of a 10-year-old child in Bangor, as revealed in court documents. The child’s parents and grandmother are now facing charges of depraved indifference murder.
According to the affidavits, interviews conducted by the police with the parents and grandmother of Braxtyn Smith shed light on their troubling history with the child and the events leading to his death. Braxtyn’s mother, Jem Beam, informed the authorities that the child was unwell on February 17, prompting her and Braxtyn’s father to seek help from his grandmother, Mistie Latourette.
Throughout the night, the trio reportedly monitored Braxtyn’s breathing before ultimately resorting to administering CPR. The following day, they rushed him to the hospital after attempts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful. Tragically, Braxtyn Smith passed away later that same night.
In the interviews with the police, all three individuals implicated described instances of restraining Braxtyn, utilizing physical punishment, and struggles with the child’s eating habits. Shockingly, Braxtyn’s father admitted to striking the child in the head, while his mother recounted an incident where he was punched in the stomach and knocked to the ground.
Moreover, text messages obtained from Braxtyn’s father to his grandmother indicated a disturbing attitude toward the child, suggestive of possible abuse. The family members admitted to using zip ties to restrain Braxtyn during moments of defiance or tantrums, even going as far as restraining him while he slept.
The severity of the situation was underscored by the medical examiner’s ruling of homicide in Braxtyn Smith’s death, citing bruising and burn marks on his body consistent with battered child syndrome. The family members in question have since been arraigned in court, facing the consequences of their alleged actions.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, advocates like Bill Diamond stress the importance of shedding light on such cases to prevent future instances of abuse. The heart-wrenching details of Braxtyn Smith’s untimely passing serve as a wake-up call for residents to remain vigilant and report any signs of child abuse or neglect.