Arizona Girl Dies of Severe Lice Infestation; Child Abuse Charges for Mom and Grandmother Upped to Murder

A mother and a grandmother, initially charged with child abuse, will now stand in trial for the murder of an Arizona girl, 9, who had a severe case of lice infestation. Authorities said that the adults did not even bother to seek medical care for the unnamed child.

According to KGUN, Sandra Kraykovich, 38, and Elizabeth Kraykovich, 68, were charged with child abuse in March 2022 after emergency services answered a call to a gated community in the Block of Golf Links. Court documents showed that the first responders described the state of the Arizona girl as disturbingly bad because bugs were covering up her face. A closer inspection revealed that these were lice from her hair.

Reports also cited that Sandra was aware of her daughter's condition. She told the cops that the child had been having headaches, fever, and episodes of vomiting. She was also anemic and had problems with her balance.

Investigators learned that the mother had sent text messages regarding the child's health to her boyfriend and mother. She told them that her daughter needed treatment. However, Elizabeth did not bring her grandchild to a doctor because of the lice on her hair. Elizabeth also texted Sandra that she was not always home to take care of her own child.

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Lice Infestation Led to Anemia

According to Law & Crime, the victim's autopsy revealed that the child died due to anemia and malnutrition due to the lice infestation. The medical examiner, Dr. Gregory Hess, also wrote in his report that the girl had a fluid build-up inside her lungs, iron deficiency, and liver necrosis.

Worse, the girl had two other siblings, 11 and 13 years old, who also have lice infestations. Following the victim's death, the sisters have been placed under the custody of other relatives. One of the children told the authorities that their mother had previously tried treating their lice with mouthwash.

Sandra said her mother complained about not getting help because she was always working or hanging out with her boyfriend. Her other children were also not helping their grandmother. The mom admitted that her daughter would still be alive today if she had gotten medical attention.

The mother stressed, however, that the lice prevented the family from bringing her daughter to the doctor. On the other hand, Elizabeth said that she almost called 911 once but decided against it because of the lice.

Sandra is currently at the Pima County Adult Detention Center with a bond of $55,000. Records for Elizabeth were not available to the case.

Lice Infestation Deadly for Neglected Kids

In 2020, the parents of a 12-year-old girl from Georgia were also charged with murder after they failed to seek medical attention for the daughter. She suffered severe lice infestation for three years.

Doctors assessed that Kaitlyn Yozviak died from low blood iron content that triggered anemia and her eventual cardiac arrest. Their home was previously cited for unsanitary conditions, per New York Daily News.

In 2021, a 4-year-old girl from Indiana almost died also of lice infestation. She was brought to the hospital after representatives of the state's child services were called to their home.

The hospital declared the child on the brink of death due to her low hemoglobin levels, which work to transport oxygen from the blood to tissues and organs. The girl's mother said she did not notice her daughter's condition.

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