5-Year-Old Girl Brutally Beaten and Assaulted in Cleveland Field; Mother Says System Is Failing Them

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland mother is calling for justice and systemic change after her 5-year-old daughter was severely beaten and sexually assaulted last month by several boys under the age of 10, an attack she says has left her child traumatized and struggling to recover.

Antavia Kennibrew, who shared the details of the incident on Facebook, said her daughter, Amarie, was staying with a family member near East 145th Street and St. Clair Avenue on September 13 while Kennibrew underwent a medical procedure. According to Kennibrew’s account, Amarie left the home and was approached by three older boys, believed to be ages 8, 9 and 10; who lured her into a nearby field.

Kennibrew wrote that the boys beat her daughter until she was unconscious, sexually assaulted her, urinated on her and attempted to strangle her with her own shirt before leaving her naked and unresponsive. “I couldn’t believe what I saw in front of me,” she posted. “My daughter did not look like herself. She was traumatized.” Kennibrew described finding her child with hair ripped from her scalp, eyes filled with blood and bruises covering her body.

Kennibrew said two of the boys initially denied knowing where Amarie was but later returned with their mother and led family members to the child. “If them two kids’ mother did not make them boys go back to my family member and let her know where my daughter was at, my baby wouldn’t be found right now. My baby wouldn’t be alive,” she wrote.

The Cleveland Division of Police confirmed in a Facebook statement Tuesday morning that its Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit is investigating “a matter involving multiple children under the age of 10, both as victims and as suspects.” The department said no further information could be released “due to the sensitive nature of this case” and to protect the privacy and constitutional rights of those involved.

Kennibrew said she initially avoided media attention to shield her daughter’s privacy but went public after learning from authorities that two of the boys could not be charged because of their ages. She said she has contacted Legal Aid, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Rape Crisis, and the Cleveland mayor’s office but has yet to receive assistance. “My daughter is not the same,” she wrote. “She is having behavioral problems. She is mentally not OK. I am mentally not OK. Me not getting justice for my daughter makes me feel like I failed her.”

In a follow-up post Tuesday, Kennibrew thanked the public for sharing her story. “Your support towards my daughter has been truly amazing,” she wrote. “My ultimate goal is justice, and I pray that this will ensure that those responsible are held accountable. It is unacceptable that my daughter’s life has been forever changed, and it would be unjust if those responsible were to go unpunished.”

The case has drawn widespread attention and outrage on social media. Commenters have called for both legal accountability and mental health intervention for the boys and their parents. Some urged Kennibrew to continue pressing public officials, while others offered to connect her with legal resources, victim advocates, and media outlets.

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Amarie’s care and legal efforts has exceeded its initial $200 goal, raising $777 as of Tuesday afternoon. Kennibrew said Amarie is receiving therapy through Journey/Frontline while she continues to seek her own counseling.

UPDATE - 10/15/2025 @ 12:54pm EST: Cuyahoga County prosecutors have now charged two children (a 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy) in connection with the brutal assault. Both have been charged with attempted murder and rape. The charges mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation, as community members and advocates continue to call for accountability and systemic reform in how such cases involving juvenile offenders are handled.

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