A Cleveland mother is demanding justice and systemic change after several boys under age 10 severely beat and sexually assaulted her 5-year-old daughter last month. The attack has left the child traumatized and struggling to recover.
Antavia Kennibrew shared the incident details on Facebook. She explained that her daughter, Amarie, was staying with a relative near East 145th Street and St. Clair Avenue on September 13 while Kennibrew had a medical procedure. According to Kennibrew, three older boys, thought to be ages 8, 9, and 10, approached Amarie, luring her into a nearby field.
Kennibrew wrote that the boys beat her daughter until she lost consciousness, sexually assaulted her, urinated on her, and attempted to strangle her using her own shirt before they left her naked and unresponsive. “I couldn’t believe what I saw in front of me,” she posted. “My daughter did not look like herself. She was traumatized.” Kennibrew described finding the child with hair torn from her scalp, blood-filled eyes, and bruises covering her entire body.
Kennibrew noted that two of the boys first denied knowing Amarie’s location but later returned with their mother, leading family members to the child. She wrote, “If them two kids’ mother did not make them boys go back to my family member and let her know where my daughter was at, my baby wouldn’t be found right now. My baby wouldn’t be alive.”
Investigation and Calls for Accountability
The Cleveland Division of Police confirmed an investigation on Tuesday morning via a Facebook statement. The Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit is looking into “a matter involving multiple children under the age of 10, both as victims and as suspects.” The department would not release further details “due to the sensitive nature of this case” and to protect the involved parties’ privacy and constitutional rights.
Kennibrew said she originally avoided media coverage to protect Amarie’s privacy. However, she went public after authorities informed her that they could not charge two of the boys because of their young ages. She has reached out to Legal Aid, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Rape Crisis, and the Cleveland mayor’s office but has yet to secure assistance.
“My daughter is not the same,” she wrote. “She is having behavioral problems. She is mentally not OK. I am mentally not OK. Me not getting justice for my daughter makes me feel like I failed her.”
In a Tuesday follow-up post, Kennibrew thanked the public for sharing her story. “Your support towards my daughter has been truly amazing,” she wrote. “My ultimate goal is justice, and I pray that this will ensure that those responsible are held accountable. It is unacceptable that my daughter’s life has been forever changed, and it would be unjust if those responsible were to go unpunished.”
Public Reaction and Support
The case quickly sparked widespread outrage on social media. Commenters have demanded both legal accountability and mental health intervention for the boys and their parents. Some urged Kennibrew to continue pressuring public officials, while others offered to connect her with legal resources, victim advocates, and media outlets.
A GoFundMe campaign started to support Amarie’s care and legal efforts has already surpassed its original goal of $200, raising $777 as of Tuesday afternoon. Kennibrew said Amarie is currently receiving therapy through Journey/Frontline as the mother continues seeking her own counseling.
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