NY - Linayjah Meraldo, 4, beaten to death at Queens homeless shelter, 22 Oct 2014

The mother of a 4-year-old girl who was found dead in a Queens shelter earlier this week has been charged with her daughter's murder.

The NYPD says that Latoya Curry, 35, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder yesterday. Her daughter, 4-year-old Linayjah Meraldo, was found dead on Thursday afternoon at the Briarwood Family Residence on 134th Street in Jamaica, Queens, and yesterday the medical examiner's office ruled her death a homicide.

Officials determined that Linayjah died from blunt force trauma to her torso, and investigators believe that Curry beat her daughter to death.

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For squirting hand cream on the floor, a 4-year-old girl’s punishment was death — allegedly at the hands of her mother at a Queens homeless shelter, officials said.

Linayjah Meraldo endured repeated abuse during her short life. And she appeared malnourished when she was found dead inside the Briarwood Salvation Army shelter Thursday, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

An autopsy found recently healed rib fractures, a torn small intestine, internal bleeding and extensive bruising.

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A woman charged with murder and other crimes in the death of her 4-year-old daughter, who was found unconscious at a Queens homeless shelter last week, was remanded without bail after her arraignment Monday...

Prosecutors said Curry flew into a rage Wednesday night, striking Meraldo so hard that she dislodged a tooth. They said the girl cried and said her stomach hurt but then fell asleep. In the morning, the girl awoke with a slight fever and later took a morning nap, but she didn't wake up, they said.

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Linayjah’s mother, Latoya Curry, has been charged with second-degree murder, according to the police. The deaths prompted the Department of Homeless Services to review its child safety policies in more than 160 city-financed shelters that house families with children, city officials said.

Homeless services officials said they identified high-risk families at shelters based on factors such as a single parent raising more than three children; a parent who is 18 to 24 years old; a man living in the household who is not the biological father; children with medical needs; and past or current involvement with the Administration for Children’s Services.

Families may be designated high risk even if they have had no previous complaints of child abuse or neglect against them, city officials said.

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