It has been 2 years since Malikah Bennett, 33, was arrested and charged with murdering her 4-year-old daughter Mejelic Sandez Young in Charlotte, NC. However, in December 2021 prosecutors announced that they will not seek the death penalty for Malikah.
Malikah was arrested on May 21, 2021. Malikah allegedly made her 13-year-old daughter help bury little sweet Mejelic in the ground.
Mejelic had lived with her mother Malikah Bennett and seven other children in a home on Braden Drive.
In or around August-September 2020 Malikah forced Mejelic to stand in the laundry room as punishment for defecating in her pants, warrants say.
Mejelic was made by her mother to stand in the room for 3 days without sitting down or leaving, according to the warrant. Mejelic’s breathing was on and off by the third day.
Mejelic eventually got too weak and fell out the back door, hitting her head on the hard ground, Mejelic died instantly.
This is not the first time Malikah has been charged with child abuse.
Malikah washed Mejelic and placed her body in two black plastic trash bags, according to the warrant.
Malikah then put Mejelic’s body in the trunk of a SUV, warrants say. Authorities say Mejelic’s dead body remained in the SUV for five days. The smell became so bad that Malikah drove the SUV to go buy a shovel at Walmart, all while Mejelic’s dead body was in the vehicle, warrants say.
Afterwards Malikah is accused of making her 13-year-old daughter bury a hole and place Mejelic’s dead body in the ground. Mejelic stayed in the ground for months.
Malikah was arrested and charged with murder on the same day Mejelic was found dead by police. Malikah’s mother and Mejelic’s grandmother was arrested weeks later and charged with accessory after the fact and dead body related charges.
Malikah has been in jail ever since.
At a court hearing in December 2021 prosecutors opted not to seek the death penalty for Malikah. Prosecutors say that there is not enough evidence to pursue the death penalty on the suspect.
