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Family of child abuse victim wants justice

By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com
By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The family of Kilah Davenport is once again calling for justice.

 The medical examiner determined the 4-year old died from pneumonia due to complications of remote blunt-force head injuries.

Those injuries were from her stepfather Joshua Houser. He was convicted of felony child abuse in February.

Kilah's family told Eyewitness News reporter Tina Terry he should face more charges.

IMAGES: Kilah Davenport

"She just had the greatest personality, overflowing personality," her grandmother Leslie Davenport said.

She can't help but think about the life her granddaughter should have had.

"She won't catch lightning bugs. She won't run through the sprinkler again. She won't see her little brother and sister," Leslie Davenport said.  

She read her granddaughter's autopsy report Thursday.

"She is dead because of what he did," Leslie Davenport said. "I want justice to be served. I want Kilah to not be forgotten."

Channel 9 spoke with the Union County district attorney to find out what if any upgraded charges Houser could face.

The DA said no decision will be made until his office can review the autopsy and talk to doctors and law enforcement officers involved in this case.

The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 20.

Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act signed by President Obama

The U.S. Senate passed the act on May 7.

Kilah's Act would force the United States Attorney General to investigate state child abuse laws to make sure abusers are punished.

In North Carolina, Kilah's case has already changed state law.

Last April, Gov. Pat McCrory signed tougher punishments for serious child abuse cases into law. The new law could double the offender’s prison time.

WSOC

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