2-Year-Old Little Girl Beaten To Death By Mother’s Boyfriend For Wetting The Bed

Aaliyah Lewis, a two year-old form Jacksonville, Florida, was beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend last April. Almost a year later, that boyfriend is set to stand trial. 

Assuming that her daughter would be safe with her boyfriend, Jamarius Devonti Graham, Aaliyah's mother went to work. While laying in bed, an asleep Aaliyah peed on Graham's sheets, infuriating him. He grabbed a belt and a coat hanger and started to beat the little girl profusely, slapping her with the belt upwards of twenty times and prodding her with the hanger until it broke in half. 

Graham stopped when Aaliyah's mother called him via FaceTime, and he answered the call. Her mother could see that Aaliyah was crying, but Graham promised that he did not "take it too far." When she arrived home, Aaliyah was having breathing problems, but the couple waited for over an hour before taking her to the local hospital. Once the family arrived at UF Health Jacksonville,  Aaliyah was pronounced dead. 

Now twenty-two, Graham will face charges for aggravated child abuse and neglect. He could be sentenced to thirty years in prison if convicted. During pre-trial procedure and with cops, he openly admitted to the beating yet stayed adamant in his belief that he "did not take it too far." 

According to medical reports, there is an unknown cause and intent of death, which will help Graham's defense. However, Graham is looking at an almost definite guilty verdict because of his willingness to share his side of the story. Furthermore, the medical examiner's autopsy did report that Aaliyah had multiple traumatic injuries to the head, torso, and extremities and significant fluid and swelling in the lungs and brain. 

Since Graham's arrest, Lewis' mother and family have held candle light vigils, a funeral service, and many prayer sessions. While the tragedy is absolutely heartbreaking, the city of Jacksonville has supported Lewis' family during the entire process. Her mother has not been charged, but she cannot help but feel as if she could have stopped her daughter from being beaten to death. 

Graham's trial is set for April 17, 2017 at the Jacksonville Court House.