Girl, 15, accused of murdering 4-year-old brother; Aleshia Harris charged

A 15-year-old girl and her adult aunt have been charged in the death of a 4-year-old boy in Jonesboro, Ga., police said.

According to Clayton County Police, emergency crews responded to a call of a child having trouble breathing at a home on Flint Trail Friday afteoon.

The child, who was later identified as 4-year-old Jamal Dunlap, was taken to Southe Regional Medical Center with second-and-third degree bus over 40 percent of his body, police said.

Authorities said the injuries indicated that the child had been placed in a tub of hot water.

Dunlap was pronounced dead of his injuries at 4:07 p.m. Friday.

Investigators said the boy had been in the car of his 15-year-old sister and his adult aunt, Aleshia Harris, when the injuries were sustained.

According to police, the boy's sister struck him several times with a leather belt and then forced him into a bathtub of hot water after the child had urinated on himself.

Police said that the boy's aunt was made aware of the injuries, but didn't seek emergency care until 24 hours later. That failure to seek care contributed to the boy's death, according to police.

On Tuesday, authorities secured arrest warrants for the 15-year-old and her aunt. They have been taken into custody and charged with murder and child cruelty in the first degree.