The Rapid City-area woman accused of the child abuse death of a 2-year old girl has had the charge against her raised from 2nd-degree manslaughter to 2nd-degree murder.
22-year-old Precious Delaney Black Elk will be arraigned March 8th on the new charge, which carries a maximum life sentence. Black Elk had faced up to 25 years for the earlier charge.
2nd-degree murder in South Dakota is defined as an act “imminently dangerous to others and [revealing] a depraved mind, without regard for human life, although without any premeditated design.”
The case against Black Elk began Feb 7 when law enforcement responded to a 911 call that a child was not breathing. Officers found the girl was beyond resuscitation, and reported bruising on her
Her attorney said Black Elk admitted to “losing her temper” and tying the toddler’s leg to a bed. Court records show the girl was found with significant bruising, including finger marks on her face