AP Features, October 5th, 2007
The mother of a 13-year-old boy accused of killing his 8-year-old brother over a dessert was arrested Thursday on a charge of aggravated child neglect.
Authorities said Tangela Key had previously beat 8-year-old Levares Key and repeatedly hit the child. He was killed Saturday while she was away.
Tangela Key, 34, was being held on $2,500 bail at the Orange County jail Thursday. It was not clear if she had an attorney.
Demetrius Key, 13, was in custody on a first-degree murder charge in Levares' death, with a detention hearing set for Friday.
Authorities say Demetrius told investigators that he beat and choked his brother after the 8-year-old picked a scab and ate a chocolate desert he wasn't supposed to eat. Demetrius at first said he hit his brother with a metal shelf support, but later said he used a broom handle.
Sgt. John Allen said Demetrius and his other siblings would hold Levares down for their mother.
"One child would hold Levares' arms, the other one would hold his legs, and they would hold him up in the air off the ground while she hit him," Allen said.
It was not immediately clear how many other children Key had or who received them in custody. Allen said detectives were still determining if they were treated similarly.
Also unknown is how long the abuse occurred, but examinations revealed several old injuries suffered before the fatal blows.
Allen said Tangela Key gave up Levares a month after he was born to a woman she called a godmother. The boy remained in her care until recently, Allen said.
He would not speculate why Key allegedly asked other children to help her beat Levares.
"She knowingly left him in a circumstance that she knew could result in his death and did so," Allen said. "Our investigation has revealed she was aware of Demetrius' propensity to harm Levares."
Levares was pronounced dead at a hospital from what the Orange County Medical Examiner called closed head wounds.
