Salem County, New Jersey — A 9-year-old girl died from multiple blunt-force injuries after her mother and stepfather allegedly claimed she had been struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident, according to police and court documents.

Authorities said the girl’s stepfather, identified in the report as Scott, called 911 at around 1 a.m. to report that the child had been hit by a car and was not breathing. The circumstances surrounding her death later raised serious questions after medical staff found injuries that investigators said were inconsistent with a vehicle collision.

The child’s mother, Miller, and stepfather are now facing allegations connected to her death. Both defendants are being held at the Salem County Jail.

Couple Initially Blamed a Hit-and-Run Driver

According to court documents obtained by a local news outlet, Scott contacted emergency services in the early morning hours and reported that the girl had been struck by a vehicle.

A 911 dispatcher relayed the information to responding officers, saying, “Sounds like CPR is in progress,” before explaining that the caller believed the 9-year-old had been hit by a car and was in cardiac arrest.

Miller allegedly told investigators that she thought she heard tires screeching while her daughter was outside walking the dog.

According to a police report, she described hearing a loud sound resembling tires screeching before Scott went outside and found the child near a shed.

The initial account suggested a possible traffic incident. However, investigators began questioning that explanation after the girl was taken to a hospital and medical staff examined her injuries.

Hospital Staff Found Multiple Serious Injuries

Authorities said the child’s injuries did not appear consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

Medical staff reportedly observed facial trauma, bruising across the girl’s body and numerous broken ribs that were in different stages of healing. Those findings raised concerns about the possibility of repeated injuries rather than a single incident.

An autopsy later revealed additional injuries, according to law enforcement. Investigators reported that the girl’s left eye was swollen shut, her colon had been ruptured and she had abrasions on her inner thigh and intimate parts.

The child was pronounced dead at 6:42 p.m. on the same day she was reported unresponsive. Her cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt-force injuries, police said.

The medical findings became a central part of the investigation as authorities worked to establish what happened before the emergency call.

Investigators Found Evidence Inside the Home

Police said investigators discovered what appeared to be blood-covered children’s clothing inside the family’s residence.

The items were reportedly found in several locations, including a bathtub, on bathroom tile and on cleaning equipment such as a Swiffer WetJet.

Authorities also examined surveillance footage as they investigated the claim that a vehicle had struck the girl.

According to police, the footage showed no vehicle traffic on the street at the time the child was allegedly hit by a car. That finding further complicated the account initially provided to emergency responders.

Investigators have not publicly detailed every piece of evidence collected, but the reported medical findings, items discovered inside the residence and surveillance footage formed part of the inquiry into the child’s death.

Young Sibling Allegedly Described the Incident

Authorities also said a 4-year-old sibling of the victim provided information during an interview. According to investigators, the younger child said Scott hit the 9-year-old in the eyes and face on the night in question.

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The statement became another part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s fatal injuries.

Because the account involves a young child, the information should be understood as an allegation reported by authorities rather than an independently established finding. Investigators have not provided further details about the interview in the information available.

Defendants Remain in Custody

Scott and Miller are being detained at the Salem County Jail as the case proceeds.

The allegations center on the child’s fatal injuries and the initial explanation that she had been struck by a vehicle. Authorities have cited medical findings, evidence reportedly recovered from the residence, surveillance footage and the younger sibling’s statement as part of the investigation.

The case underscores how investigators may compare emergency-call accounts with medical examinations, physical evidence and witness statements when the circumstances of a death remain unclear.

Further details about the charges, court proceedings and the defendants’ responses were not included in the available report.

The investigation has raised serious questions about the events leading up to the child’s death. What steps do you believe are most important in protecting children from abuse? Share your thoughts in the comments below.