Mother allegedly killed 8-year-old daughter who she said was possessed by ghosts, cops say

According to Michigan state authorities and media reports, a mother inflicted “unbelievable” injuries on her eight-year-old daughter and is now charged with her daughter's death.

The mother, 30-year-old Chelsea Renee Duperon of Wayne, claimed her daughter was possessed by spirits, according to court documents obtained by WJBK.

“I swear to God, that's not me,” she told authorities during the interview, WWJ reported. “It sounds crazy, but there are evil spirits.”

Wayne officials were called to Duperon's home on March 16 because the child was not breathing, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a news release. The girl was found unconscious with injuries to her head and neck.

“What she endured is unbelievable,” prosecutor Erin Wilmoth told WWJ. “The pictures show a child who doesn't even look like a child. The massive swelling on her head and face made her completely unrecognizable.”

Duperon initially told officers the girl's injuries were the result of a fall down the stairs, WXYZ reported, citing court documents. But two days before police were called to the home, she told her partner it was a “ghost or spirit” that attacked her daughter.

According to WXYZ, the mother eventually testified that she hit her daughter and only sought medical help when her daughter stopped breathing.

The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to prosecutors.

Duperon was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and child abuse, Worthy said.

During her arraignment on Wednesday, March 19, Duperon was reportedly ordered to go to jail without bail.

“Every murder is hard on our investigators and the community, but murders involving a child are by far the worst,” said Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police. “We hope the facts uncovered during this investigation will bring justice for this little girl.”

The 8-year-old girl was identified by her relatives as Lyla Lynn Cassel.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful girl Lyla,” Elizabeth Duperon wrote on Facebook. “At eight years old, she shone so brightly.”

“Just know that the whole WORLD is on your side baby. The whole world,” Tori Nicole said in a Facebook post. “People that don't even know you. I wish someone could have protected you from this. You have been failed in so many ways.”

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