In May, 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval was found unresponsive with “multiple bruises,” prompting the arrest of her 14-year-old granddaughter, Sofia Koval.
Florida authorities have charged Sofia with manslaughter in relation to her grandmother’s death, which occurred in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., on May 23, as reported by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office ruled the death a homicide and identified Sofia as a suspect. Broward County officials have opted to charge the teen as an adult for manslaughter.
Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor stated, “Considering the heinous nature of the crime and the evidence presented by the defense, I believe it is appropriate to handle this case in adult court,” following the charge filed on October 1.
On May 23, Sofia’s father reported to police that he had left his daughter with his mother while he visited a friend. Upon returning, he discovered the elderly woman unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
An arrest report suggests that investigators believe Sofia may have used a belt and her grandmother’s walker to inflict h*rm, according to reports from the South Florida Sun Sentinel, WSVN, and NBC Miami.
According to an arrest report cited by NBC Miami and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sofia allegedly told her father that she att*cked her grandmother in self-defense.
She reportedly confessed to “striking the victim several times with a belt,” as noted in the arrest document. Following this, Sofia began to cry and expressed remorse for her actions.
The arrest affidavit reveals that she told her father she “helped” her grandmother die because the elderly woman was “already dying,” as reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, WSVN, and NBC Miami.
Sofia, who recently moved to Florida from Ukraine, had witnessed the ongoing war there, according to her father. He informed police that she was struggling with “behavioral issues” stemming from her experiences with the conflict and separation from her mother.
On the day of the incident, Sofia’s father reportedly took away her phone as a disciplinary measure, as mentioned in the arrest report cited by NBC Miami and the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
If convicted, Sofia faces up to 15 years in prison. However, there is a possibility she could be sentenced as a juvenile, which would result in up to three years in a juvenile correction facility. Additionally, if convicted, she may face deportation after serving her sentence.
Sofia is currently being held without bond.