Woman charged in niece’s death

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities say a Cleveland woman has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of her 6-year-old niece.

Cleveland Police Capt. Linda Kaspar says Linda Sykes was charged Saturday in the death of Deshaunsay Sykes-Crowder on Wednesday. Kaspar says Sykes brought the child to MetroHealth Medical Center and told authorities the girl had drowned at Edgewater Park.

An autopsy conducted by the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office found that Sykes-Crowder did not drown. Kaspar says the girl showed signs of blunt force trauma and possible suffocation.

Sykes was the child’s legal guardian.