Grandmother Kimberly Powell Suspected In Girl's Death Released

DENVER -- The grandmother of a 15-month-old girl who died Wednesday was arrested on charges of child abuse resulting in death but then released Thursday afteoon.

Police said the toddler, Amber Enard, had "significant bruises" to her body when they were called to the girl's home Wednesday moing. They were told that the child was not breathing.

When officers arrived at the apartment, located at 10150 East Virginia Avenue in southeast Denver, they found Amber lifeless, cold to the touch and stiff, according to court documents.

She was transported to Children’s Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigators looked into the case as a "suspicious death" and arrested Kimberly Powell, 48. (Read the arrest warrant affidavit.)

However, late Thursday afteoon, police said they plan to release the woman, saying that further investigation was needed.

“She was arrested based on evidence that was obtained yesterday during the initial investigation. Based on new information the police feel they need to further investigate the case and get complete autopsy results from the coroner," said police spokesman Matt Murray.

An autopsy was conducted Thursday moing, but the results on her cause of death are "pending," said Michelle Weiss-Samaras, chief deputy coroner. Further studies, further lab tests, and further examination, perhaps by another specialist, are needed, Weiss-Samaras said.

Affidavit: Child Was 'Slapped Until She Was Dead'

A doctor who initially examined the girl said she had bruises on her chest, abdomen, back, shoulder, face and forearm -- injuries that were considered "suspicious for non-accidental trauma," according to the arrest affidavit.

According to court documents, another child witnessed what happened to the girl.

The child said the girl was "pooping, getting slapped in the head and then dying." The child "used a doll to demonstrate how the victim's head was rammed into the wall, slapped numerous times" and then died, the affidavit said.

Powell told detectives that she was in the living room, drinking beer, when she realized the girl had "pooped on the carpet" and had stepped on it. She said she cleaned the feces off the girl's leg and then changed clothes. She said she went into Amber's room and put on a movie for her. According to the affidavit, she said the last she saw her, the girl was sitting on the bed.

Powell's daughter, who is Amber's mother, told detectives that Powell changed the toddler after the girl "pooped all over her grandmother." But Amber's mother said she had fallen asleep by the time. When the mother went to check on Amber the next moing, the girl was lying face down in her pillow and not breathing, according to the affidavit.

Neighbor Says She Heard Banging, Crying

A neighbor who lives in the apartment above said on Tuesday night, between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., she heard a baby screaming and crying and heard a woman's voice constantly telling the child to shut up.

Brittney Benson said at about 3 a.m. the crying stopped.

When she woke up and was preparing to go to work around 7 a.m. she saw the child's father run out of the apartment screaming and holding his head, Benson said. Paramedics arrived moments later and ran inside the home, Benson said.

She then saw the paramedics run out with a small child wrapped up and on a respirator.

Benson said there was a lot of banging in the home that night, but that it was not uncommon, and that kind of noise and activity was typical for that address.

Several neighbors said police have been called to the home several times before. At least two neighbors told 7NEWS they have suspected drug activity in the apartment for some time.

Powell has a history of arrests for shoplifting, vehicle theft, parole violations and disturbing the peace. Her criminal records date back to the early 1990s.

The girl's cause of death is pending autopsy results from the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.

Powell has been released from jail pending further investigation.