Woman faces murder, child abuse charges in toddler’s death
A 23-year-old woman was indicted Friday on charges she killed a toddler last month.
Mariann Harris faces murder and child abuse charges in the slaying of 14-month-old Dyon Johnson on Aug. 13.
Authorities said they think Harris beat Dyon with a metal pipe.
Harris is being held in the Clark County Detention Center without bail. An arraignment hearing is set for Sept. 8 before Judge Abbi Silver.
Harris’ arrest report said Dyon’s body was cold and glassy-eyed when paramedics arrived at Harris’ downtown apartment just after midnight Aug. 13. The toddler had been dead for “some time” before Harris called 911, the report said.
Authorities found a metal pipe in the kitchen that had been removed from a bar stool, the report said. Harris accused police of bringing the pipe into her home, but officers said the pipe was in the apartment when they responded, the report said.
A doctor at University Medical Center said Dyon’s body and face were covered with fresh bruises and some older wounds that appeared to be healing.
Harris was the girl’s godmother and had been her caretaker for several days.
A neighbor told police of seeing Harris striking the girl several days earlier. The neighbor said Harris also routinely struck her own three children, the report said. Harris initially told Dyon’s mother, Jannett Simms, the toddler had fallen off a bunk bed. She later said Dyon had fallen down the stairs, the report said.
