In a harrowing case that has gripped Ohio, a mother stands accused of murdering her own infant daughter. The charges against her outline a grim narrative of severe abuse. Authorities have accused Daisha Somers, 27, of brutally assaulting her 10-month-old daughter, Ka’myla Somers, to such an extent that the infant sustained seven skull fractures, internal bleeding, retinal hemorrhages, multiple strokes, and suffered a heart attack.

Back in November 2022, Somers attempted to convince investigators that her daughter’s critical injuries were the result of a simple fall from her toddler bed. However, the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office challenged her account, citing a press release which stated that the trauma Ka’myla endured was inconsistent with such a fall.

Somers, alongside her boyfriend, Jerry Johnson, claimed they were alerted by a loud “thud” and subsequently found Ka’myla unresponsive on the floor. Surprisingly, neither took immediate action to call emergency services. Instead, they opted to transport the child to a hospital in their personal car, hours after the incident occurred, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a significant development, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that Somers faces multiple charges, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, corrupting another with drugs, child endangerment, and aggravated possession of drugs. Johnson, not the biological father of Ka’myla, faces charges of child endangerment related to the incident but has not been charged with murder.

The sheriff’s office further revealed that Somers admitted to using methamphetamine, while Johnson confessed to being under the influence of marijuana and alcohol. Johnson reportedly discovered the child unresponsive and not breathing when Somers was away doing laundry at a separate location.

After bringing the child to the hospital, Ka’myla was placed on life support. She showed no signs of brain activity and was declared dead on Nov. 23, 2022.

Somers was indicted last week by a Hocking County grand jury and taken into custody in West Virginia. She is currently being held without bond.

The original child endangerment charges against Somers and Johnson were dismissed in April 2023 while prosecutors sought an indictment by a grand jury for murder, according to The Logan Daily News. A special prosecutor was appointed to help with the case after local officials declared that it would take “an incredible amount of analysis, effort, and specialized expertise,” the newspaper reported.

Officials have said that the years-long delay was due to the investigation being “heavily reliant on forensic evidence, expert testimony, and medical information/opinion/analysis.” It was reported that prosecutors needed “more time for further investigation, data and evidence analysis, and confirmation of a variety of medical professional opinions,” according to the Daily News.

“Ka’Myla was 10 months old with a smile that would light up a room,” a GoFundMe said about the child in 2022, with the fundraiser being launched by her father’s sister.

“She was full of life and was learning to walk,” the description said. “She enjoyed watching cartoons and talking on the phone. Charles is heartbroken and is currently unable to work. Charles should be planning Ka’Myla’s 1st birthday in January, not his daughter’s funeral.”