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Mother, girlfriend convicted of beating death of 5-year-old daughter in 2017

Posted at 5:03 PM, Jun 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-12 19:25:08-04

The mother of a 5-year-old girl who was brutally beaten to death in March 2017 was found guilty in connection with her death on Tuesday afternoon.

The girl's mother, Tequila Crump and her partner, Ursula Owens, were both found guilty on multiple charges.

Owens was convicted of reckless homicide, murder, felonious assault and multiple counts of endangering children. Crump was convicted of reckless homicide and endangering children.

According to court records, 5-year-old Ta’Naejah McCloud was beaten inside her Bryant Avenue home by Crump and Owens on St. Patrick's Day 2017.

Ta'Neajah's older brother said he witnessed the abuse and alerted the authorities. The teen told News 5 he watched his mother and Ta’Neajah’s mother take turns standing over the girl and repeatedly hit her in the head. The teen said he tried to perform CPR and asked his mother to call 911 repeatedly, but he was told no. 

RELATED: 'I know no child ever wants to send their mother to jail': Brother of slain 5-year-old to testify 

Ta’Naejah was pronounced dead at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center on March 22, 2017. Crump and Owens were later arrested on murder charges and held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

More Ta'Naeja coverage:

5-year-old victim's guardian says she was never notified ofopenabuse investigation

Family, neighbors speak out atvigilforTa'NaejahMcCloud

Children and Family Services first warned about abuse five months before 5-year-old's death

Social workers visited home 8 times before 5-year-old girl was killed

Sentencing for both women will take place on July 24 at 9 a.m.