9-Year-Old Who Pleaded 'Please Stop' Is Beaten To Death; Mom, Stepmom Charged

The mother and stepmother of a 9-year-old boy in Indiana were charged in connection with his violent death.

Elijah Thomas Ross, of Fort Wayne, died on Dec. 18 after he was allegedly repeatedly beaten with a wooden paddle by stepmom Alesha Lynn Miller, 30, Fox 55 reported, citing a probable cause affidavit released by the City of Fort Wayne Police Department.

Jenna Mae Miller, 36, the victim's mother and Alesha's spouse, told investigators that Elijah had screamed, "Please stop," as Alesha repeatedly beat her son with the paddle on the night he died, the affidavit said.

Alesha was arrested Tuesday on four charges, including aggravated battery resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and two counts of neglect of a dependent.

Jenna was also arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent causing death, neglect of a dependent by failing to render medical aid as well as two counts of neglect of a dependent, Fox 55 reported.

The Millers initially told police they were at a Christmas party on the night of Dec. 17 when they got a call informing them Elijah had been shoved into a bookcase while fighting with his siblings, according to the affidavit.

Jenna told cops she found that Elijah was not breathing and had vomited when she went upstairs in their Fort Wayne home, according to the affidavit.

She brought him to the hospital, but Elijah was "cold and limp" by the time they arrived, the affidavit said. The boy was pronounced dead just after 2 a.m. Saturday.

Doctors noticed "multiple bruises" on the boy's arms, face and shoulders. The 9-year-old also had "major" bruising on his lower back and rear end, the affidavit stated.

One of Elijah's brothers told police in an interview Monday that Alesha "went hard" on the 9-year-old, WANE 15 reported. The unnamed child alleged that Alesha would slam Elijah to the ground and "whoop him with the paddle," police said. Elijah was subjected to this kind of treatment on multiple occasions, according to the affidavit.

Elijah eventually got "knocked out," the boy's brother told investigators. Alesha splashed water on him and shook him trying to get him to wake up, the child alleged.

The victim's brother alleged that Jenna was going to call police, but Alesha said the cops would arrest them both and they didn't want to go to jail, the affidavit said.

Alesha told police she struck Elijah with a belt on his buttocks three times three different times. She claimed the boy's brother was the one who hit Elijah with a paddle on the night of the incident, the affidavit said.

Alesha is currently being held in the Allen County Jail on a $55,000 bond. She is due to return to court Wednesday for another hearing.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover funeral costs for Elijah and any other expenses such as supporting the boy's two brothers.