Great grandmother speaks out about child abuse case

KANNAPOLIS — The Kannapolis police chief said they are working vigorously on the case of Malaya Heun.

Fifteen-month-old Malaya died in January; police say she was beaten and sexually abused at her Kannapolis home. Police say it happened while her mother was at work and two adults were babysitting.
Doctors at CMC Main said Malaya had broken ribs, bruising, a displaced clavicle and torn intestines.

Eric Philips interviewed Malaya's great-grandmother Patricia Haney Monday afternoon.

"It's just ripping my heart out; if I knew who done it and they were in prison, jail or whatever, I maybe could deal with it better," said Haney.

Haney says the relationship between her and her children became strained when she chose her ex-husband over them years ago.

"I couldn't hardly go around my family, I couldn't have them around my house," Haney said.

She says she does not get much information from them about what happened to Malaya, and she says what they do tell her does not add up.

"My family says the baby fell down the stairs…to be hurt that badly, I don't see it," Haney said.

A search warrant Channel 9 uncovered says the babysitter called Malaya's mother at work and told her to rush home because something had happened to the little girl.

"I cry a lot…I'm doing this because I want to see who done this put behind bars," said Haney.

Channel 9 knocked on the door of the home where police say the abuse happened, but no one answered. Warrants show DNA was collected from people who were in the house with Malaya that day, and others who lived there, including children.

Police would not comment on the results of the testing.

WSOC