TARBORO —
PINETOPS — "I want justice for Star. I don't care if it kills me I'm going to fight for it,"
That was the cry of the child's mother Saturday during a rally in town for her 2-year old daughter, who was allegedly sexually assaulted and physically abused last weekend.
The Daily Southerner does not release names of sexual assault victims juveniles or their parents.
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department charged Chelsey Elaine Speight, 20, 374 Northwoods Country Road, Tarboro, with misdemeanor child abuse and felony neglect child abuse serious physical injuries in the case.
Speight was placed in the Edgecombe County Detention Center under a $1,000 secured bond. She reportedly made bond and was free on Monday.
Sheriff James Knight has released very limited details of the investigation, citing the sensitivity of the case and noting he didn't want to impede on the ongoing investigation.
Speight's freedom and the $1,000 bond have infuriated the mother, her family and the Pinetops community. More than 100 people rallied at the car wash in Pinetops Saturday with some of them shedding tears as the mother spoke about her daughter, whom she calls Star.
She described Star as a sweet, outspoken 2-year-old who always has a smile on her face.
The mother said her daughter was sexually molested and beaten, had bite marks on her as well as burn marks, which she described as chemical burns.
The mother said she took Star and her 4-year-old daughter to Speight's house Saturday night at Speight's request for her to keep them. The mother also has two boys, ages 5 and 9.
When the mother went back to pick her the 2-year old up, she said her baby was bruised beyond recognition.
The mother said she and Speight rushed her daughter to Vidant Edgecombe Hospital's emergency department. Star was later transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, but has since been released and is recovering at the home of her grandmother.
"She was released on Wednesday," the mother said. "She is doing just fine, but she still wake up from her dream hollering about what happened."
The mother said she had known Speight for two years and they were accustomed to babysitting each other's children. She didn't expect Speight to allow anything to happen to her daughter.
"She told me that a dog did that to my child," the mother said. "Her dog couldn't have done the things that happened to my child. It look like she had human bites on her arms.
"It's seems like there was no justice. How could they let her out on a $1,000 bond?" asked a cousin of the mother, who was also upset about the bond.
"Why did they release her?" she said. "Somebody should be locked up. We want justice for Star."
Knight said his department has been working almost around the clock to solve this horrendous crime. He said DNA samples have been sent to SBI. Routine DNA samples take up to two weeks or more for the lab work to return. Knight asked for special treatment in this case and said he is expecting the results back by this week.
"I have sympathy for this 2-year-old child," Knight said. "She didn't deserve this. As the sheriff of Edgecombe County, I'm going to make sure that every rock is uncovered until we arrest everybody who has anything to do with this incident. I ask the public to please bear with us as we investigate this incident. We are not taking this lightly. This is a very sensitive case and we are doing everything that we can to make sure everybody that is involve will be prosecuted."
Homepage
Related Photos
-
Tatyana Woodard, left, Shalana Draughn, Carla Draughn and Deloris Winstead lead the front line of marchers Saturday during a rally for Zyketa Star Draughn, the 2-year old who was allegedly sexual and physically assaulted last week.
-
Bryanna Wooten, left, and Treziyah Hinton hold up a sign in honor of Star Saturday during the rally in Pinetops.
Family, friends rally for sexually assaulted girl
- Homepage
-
AIB co-chair Buddy Hooks, left, discusses courthouse square with AIB judge James Abraham, center, and chair of the courthouse square project Martie Thompson. James “Jim” Abraham, of Savannah, Ga., and Ed Hooker, of Fort Riley, Kansas, were in Tarboro Monday and Tuesday to judge the community’s entry in the America in Bloom competition
-
America in Bloom judges to Tarboro: keep the momentum going
The Town Common and 200-year-old trees providing a canopy over the focal point of Tarboro were the first things that caught the eye of the America in Bloom (AIB) judges when they arrived in town Sunday evening.
“The trees are amazing…the canopy and the shade and the different varieties,” said Ed Hooker, III. “Trees are very important. They have almost a calming effect.” - LGC presents Princeville's 2013-2014 proposed budget
- ECPS awaits county budget decision
-
America in Bloom judges to Tarboro: keep the momentum going
- Local News
-
-
Nash Health Care seeking expanded affiliates
ROCKY MOUNT — The Board of Commissioners of Nash Health Care has voted to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to five, pre-selected regional tertiary hospital systems for evaluation of an expanded affiliation relationship.
Nash Health Care operates a number of facilities, including five hospitals totaling 403 beds — Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, Community Hospital and Coastal Plain Hospital. - AIB judging under way
-
Nash Health Care seeking expanded affiliates
- Sports
-
Ryan Chatt
-
Chatt wins NC East District tourney
SouthWest Edgecombe Cougar Ryan Chatt recently won the North Carolina East District golf tournament through the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. The match was held at Scotch Meadows Country Club in Laurinburg.
- Diver with Tarboro ties named academic all-America
-
Chatt wins NC East District tourney
- Opinion
-
-
You, too, can be a slacker spy
Think you're a loser just because you dropped out of high school and never finished the military training you began?
Think you're a dud just because you work as a security guard even though you dreamed of becoming a global savior?
Well, don't beat yourself up. You, too, can become an international superspy like Edward Snowden.
-
You, too, can be a slacker spy
- Lifestyles
-
-
Whitley/Webb
Pinetops-Caitlin Layne Whitley and John Robert Webb were married on June 8, 2013 at half past three in the afternoon at Pinetops Baptist Church.
The Reverend John Melancon performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Michael Whitley. Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. James Carlton Jernigan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Lane Whitley.
-
- Obituaries Archives
-
-
BRUCE EVERETTE
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Bruce Everette, 61, died Sunday, June 16, 2013. Arrangements are pending with Hemby-Willoughby Mortuary, Tarboro.
- ERNEST MURPHY
- GWENDOLYN FAYE REID
- CURTIS EDWARD TUCKER
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
-
BRUCE EVERETTE
- Food
-
-
Elegant Entertaining With Bold Flavors
Summer entertaining is easy with simple, crowd-pleasing recipes from light bites to sweet delights that require almost no time in the kitchen.
Invite over a few of your closest friends, heat up the grill and set out your favorite wines for a truly memorable outdoor dinner party. Select simple recipes that can be prepared ahead of time and quickly seared on the grill once your guests have arrived. Everyone will enjoy the food and you'll love that you're not trapped in the kitchen. Prep, chop and marinate everything then store it all in containers.
Continue the trend of simplicity by serving food-friendly wines, such as those from Las Rocas. Las Rocas, which literally means "the rocks" because of the rocky soil where the grapes are grown, produces an incredibly vibrant Garnacha and refreshing RosÈ that pair wonderfully with these dishes. - Zesty Mexican Meals Made Fast
- It's grillin' time!
- Great fondue
-
- Events
-
-
Edgecombe Events June 19
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
-
Edgecombe Events June 19
- Our Community
-
-
WALTON EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
John Ronald Walton, a 2013 graduate of Edgecombe Early College High School and son of John and Lesa Walton, is presented a $2,000 scholarship check by Edgecomber County Farm Bureau Presidet Tom Proter. Walton is enrolled at NC State University for the fall semester.
- Edgecombe County Public Schools announces 2013-2014 teachers of the year
-
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
