‘Distorted’ schoolgirl, 14, who ‘beat her grandmother to death’ is filmed praying in court
a Florida A schoolgirl accused of beating her grandmother to death was filmed praying desperately in court.
Sofia Koval, 14, is accused of killing her grandmother, 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval, in Lauderdale Lakes, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Miami.
She was seen praying as she awaited arraignment on manslaughter in Broward County court shortly after her arrest.
Yevheniia was found unconscious and covered in bruises by her son Vladimir Koval on May 23 and was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A medical examiner subsequently determined the grandmother’s death was a homicide.
Sofia Koval, 14, is accused of murdering her grandmother, 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval
Yevheniia’s son then told police that he left her with his teenage daughter Sofia while he went to visit a friend.
Vladimir added that hours before he found his mother unconscious on the floor, he took away Sofia’s cell phone because of her “behavioral problems.”
The father said Sofia had recently moved to the U.S. from Ukraine and was exhibiting behavioral issues, which he “believed stemmed from the war she witnessed in Ukraine and her mother’s divorce.”
Police said they determined Sofia was a suspect through “investigative methods” but did not provide additional details.
“It was determined that the teen physically struck the victim multiple times. “Because the minor hit the grandmother, she died,” Sofia’s arrest report states.
Neighbors of the family told the story WSVN they were shocked by the allegations against the teenager.
“It was determined that the teen physically struck the victim multiple times. “Because the minor hit the grandmother, she died,” Sofia’s arrest report states
Neighbors of the family told local media they were shocked by the allegations against the teenager. The family’s apartment complex is pictured above
An unnamed neighbor said: “She’s a good girl. It’s just something I don’t see Sofia doing.’
Meanwhile, a family friend said Sofia was struggling with her mother being in Britain.
“She can’t come here, so she was deformed. I don’t see her doing anything drastic,” the family friend told the local news station.
Sofia’s father was present in the courtroom with a Ukrainian translator.
She has not yet entered a plea and it is unclear whether she will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for June 12.
