9-year-old girl found dead in Brooklyn apartment; mother arrested

NEW YORK - Police arrested the mother of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead inside an apartment in Brooklyn, authorities said. The girl had suffered head trauma and possible bites. 

Authorities charged Shemene Cato, 48, with murder, manslaughter, assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Cops responded to an apartment at 571 Lincoln Place in Crown Heights at about 1 p.m. on Sunday where they found the girl unconscious and unresponsive. EMS arrived at the scene and pronounced the child dead.

The New York City medical examiner ruled the death of the girl, identified as Shalom Guifarro, to be a homicide. 

New York Post reported that the girl was found in her bed after employees at the restaurant below her apartment complained of a foul smell coming from the unit.

Two dog crates were taken from the scene including one with a small dog and another with a pit bull-type dog, added the Post.

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In March, a 6-year-old girl was found dead along with her mother inside their apartment in the Bronx. Police responded to a wellness check at 4024 Monticello Avenue in the Edenwald section and found Gabrielle Muniz, 26, and her daughter, Rozara Estevez, 6, stabbed to death.

Officials say the suspect in the slaying, Caleb Duberry, 34, was believed to be Muniz's boyfriend. He was also found dead a short time later inside a Bivonia Street apartment.