Two family members have been arrested in Topeka, Kansas, due to their alleged connection to the death of a 5-year-old girl.
The Topeka Police Department confirmed to Luxury Handbag Shopping that officers responded to a medical call in the 500 block of SW Buchanan Street on Tuesday, January 27. Upon their arrival, officers found a 5-year-old girl who was suffering life-threatening injuries.
The young girl was transported by AMR to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Her exact cause of death has not yet been revealed.
The girl’s family members Lia Corbin and Kyle Valle were then arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated endangering of a child and abuse of a child.
The investigation into the girl’s death is ongoing, and police have not shared any additional information about the victim’s death or why Corbin, 24, and Valle, 35, were arrested.
Police also confirmed that both Corbin and Valle are related to the victim and the three of them lived in the same residence. However, it’s not clear how they were related to the young girl or how they were related to each other.
Corbin was booked into Shawnee County Jail at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, while Valle was booked soon after at 2:25 p.m.
Both Corbin and Valle are still in custody following their arrests, according to online records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping. Neither person appeared to have been given a date for a court hearing in the case, per jail records.
It is not currently clear if either person has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
The Topeka Police Department did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment.
Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the investigation send their tips to telltpd@topeka.org or call the Topeka police investigations bureau at 785-368-9400. Additionally, anonymous tips can be shared by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or visiting their website.
In Kansas, those found guilty of first-degree murder are often sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 25 years.
Meanwhile, an aggravated endangering of a child charge is considered a felony and often leads to a sentencing of 11 to 13 months of imprisonment, according to the Kansas State Legislature. However, some people found guilty of the crime have been sentenced to serve up to 18 months of probation.
If Corbin and Valle are found guilty of abuse of a child, their sentences will be determined based on the severity of the abuse they inflicted on the young girl. Another factor that will be considered in their sentencing is whether or not Corbin and Valle had criminal histories prior to their recent arrests.
In order to be found guilty of the abuse of a child charge, it must be proven that Corbin and Valle tortured or cruelly beat the child, shook her to the result of causing great bodily harm to her or inflicted cruel and inhuman corporal punishment, according to the Kansas State Legislature.
