KANSAS CITY, Mo. –A Kansas City mother pleaded guilty on Thursday to multiple felony counts in connection to the death of her two-year-old daughter and the injury of her three-year-old daughter.
Marie Chishahayo, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child – resulting in death, first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and abuse or neglect of a child resulting in serious emotional or physical injury.
Calia Elia, 2, died in a “suspicious” fire at her mother’s apartment near East 13th and Vine Streets in March of 2015.
Calia’s three-year-old sister, Elena, suffered severe burns in the fire.
According to police the nine-year-old boy and another female infant were found uninjured and placed in protective custody.
Court records reveal the mother initially told police her nine-year-old son heated a knife and burned the three-year-old over her body. The suspect said she allowed it because “god told him to.”
Police say the mom later admitted that she struck the girls. However, Chishahayo still said the nine-year-old did most of the abuse. At one point Chishahayo allegedly told prosecutors that the nine-year-old picked up Calia and threw her into a wall several times.
Jackson County prosecutor Michael Mansur said sentencing for Chishahayo will follow, but a date has not yet been set.
