Mercedes Mayfield, 6, was found unconscious in an entrance to a an apartment building on Feb. 27. Her cousin, Rachel Downer, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and felony neglect of a child.
The Daily News reports:
The cousin of a six-year-old girl who froze to death outside her home in temperatures of -30 degrees has been arrested in connection with her death.
Tiny Mercedes Mayfield was discovered unconscious in the entrance to an apartment building the morning of February 27 in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Windchill drove the temperature down to -40 degrees.
Now cousin Rachel Downer, 22, has been arrested and is expected to be charged with second-degree manslaughter and felony neglect of a child, according to a Bemidji police statement.
Mercedes was discovered by her mother and a neighbor, who immediately called 911.
She was dressed in a coat, boots, hat and mittens. It is not clear how the first-grader got outside, but she may have been there overnight.
She died from hypothermia.
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(Photo Source: Daily News)
