Mother & Grandmother Charged with Murder After Child Dies from Head Lice Infestation

Per Tucson, Arizona authorities, a mother and grandmother have been charged with the death of a nine-year-old girl who suffered from a head lice infestation. The mother of the child, Sandra Kraykovich, and the grandmother, Elizabeth Kraykovich, were initially charged with felony child abuse when the child died in March. However, the courts recently increased their charges to murder once the autopsy report confirmed that the minor suffered from malnutrition and anemia caused by the untreated lice infection. According to law enforcement, two other minors also lived in the home and suffered from neglect.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 6 to 12 million children get infected with lice yearly. In severe cases, bacteria can spread into a person's bloodstream and lymph nodes and be fatal. However, lice infections are common, easy to treat, and rarely deadly.

Please stay tuned for further updates regarding this case.

Photo Credit: Tucson Police Department