- Terica Scott and Dineshia Yates, both 26, were booked after leaving eight children, ages 11 months to 12 years, home alone in Baton Rouge
- Yates’ daughter Blessing Buckles suffered a brain haemorrhage and died after the attack by underage suspects – Scott’s son, 10, and her cousin, 12
- The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a call on Feb. 12 about Blessing being unconscious at Scott’s home on O’Neal Lane.
Two Louisiana boys, ages 10 and 12, have been charged with murder for beating a three-year-old girl to death while their mothers were gambling in a casino.
Terica Scott and Dineshia Yates, both 26, were booked after leaving eight children, ages 11 months to 12 years, home alone in Baton Rouge, according to WAFB.
Yates’ daughter Blessing Buckles suffered a brain haemorrhage after the attack by the juvenile suspects – Scott’s son, 10, and her nephew, 12.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a call on Feb. 12 about Blessing being unconscious at Scott’s home on O’Neal Lane in Louisiana’s capital.
Officers said a child called around 3:45 p.m. and no adults were in the home when they arrived. Scott and Yates pulled up in the driveway shortly after.
Two Louisiana boys aged just 10 and 12 beat three-year-old Blessing Buckles (pictured) to death in a horrific attack while their mothers were gambling in a casino
Terica Scott (pictured) said she was aware her nephew had a history of violence against other children
Dineshia Yates (pictured) said she saw bruises on at least one of her daughters after they were left alone with the boy, but she “ignored her children’s pleas for help,” arrest records show. She is the mother of Blessing Buckles
The pair admitted that all eight children were left home alone for several hours while gambling at the casino, police said.
Scott also said she was aware that her cousin had a history of violence against other children.
Yates said she saw bruises on at least one of her daughters after they were left alone with the boy, but that she “ignored her children’s pleas for help,” according to arrest records seen by WAFB.
Scott and Yates were each charged with principal count of simple battery and principal count of manslaughter for Blessing’s death.
The two boys responsible for the attack were also arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter.
Blessing did not die immediately: paramedics tried to resuscitate her at home before she was taken to hospital in critical condition.
She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead two days later on February 14.
Blessing suffered a brain hemorrhage and bruising to her face and body, likely caused by blunt force trauma, authorities said.
At the time of her death, Yates and her children were staying with Scott and her family, and they admitted to police that they regularly left all eight young people home alone to gamble.
Pictured: The home where the brutal attack took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The pair are close friends but not related, and they both have criminal records.
According to WBRZ, Yates was previously arrested for stealing clothes from a Walmart and belongings from a home in 2017.
She also reportedly launched a rock through the windshield of another woman’s car in 2020.
Scott was charged with murder in 2021 for allegedly shooting a woman to death, but she was never indicted by a grand jury.
She was also charged with arson in 2023 for allegedly setting fire to a car at someone’s house.
Witnesses said Scott tampered with security cameras to avoid detection, a spokesman said WBRZ report from that time.
Her booking photo for the murder trial shows her from the chest up, with bare shoulders and her hair tied back. A heart-shaped tattoo is visible in the center of her chest.
“A case like this is devastating,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said in a statement after the recent arrests.
“My heart breaks for this child lost too soon, and I pray for the others involved. If you ever know of child abuse, neglect or abandonment, call police immediately.”