Chelsea Huggett

Case record: Chelsea Huggett

Background

Chelsea Huggett was the mother of 2-year-old Aliyah Marie Branum. She was arrested and charged after Aliyah was found not breathing, conscious or alert inside a home at 1605 N. Julia Way in Hernando. At the time of her arrest, Huggett was eight months pregnant with her second child.

Huggett told deputies that her boyfriend, and father of her unborn child, had killed Aliyah by spraying bug spray on her; deputies said the man was not Aliyah’s biological father and was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Huggett’s family was present in court and was visibly upset as the prosecution detailed the incident; Huggett shed tears as she heard the prosecutor describe the injuries.

Huggett had left the name and birthday tattooed across her chest.

Huggett’s neighbors said there was fighting and screaming in Huggett's house. Neighbors also said Huggett and Aliyah recently moved in with a couple that owned the home, and neighbors said they rarely would see Huggett and never saw Aliyah outside.

Huggett’s ex-boyfriend, Jason Ruane, spoke after Huggett was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Ruane said he had never seen “ever hit Aliyah or just take out anything on her daughter.” When asked if he believed Huggett committed the crime, Ruane said, “I have a feeling...she confessed to it so I honestly believe she did it.” Ruane also claimed that he and Chelsea did everything the Department of Children and Families wanted them to do, and said the allegations of bruises and rashes were allegations. Ruane said, “She was well taken care of...She was always happy. Everybody I know sees us. We're always together. She's always smiling.” Ruane said something must have happened and Chelsea snapped. Ruane said he wanted Huggett to “do her time,” and said, “She did what she did. She's not going to be able to see my daughter but I want her to speak up because there's more that happened in that house for her to have snapped like that.” Ruane said he wanted the Citrus County Sheriff’s Department “to do more digging.” Ruane said he planned to fight for custody of his unborn baby and planned “to do the DNA and take whatever steps there is to make sure she's safe in a happy home. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure my daughter is raised in a safe environment and that Chelsea will never get to meet her for what she done.” Ruane planned to call the baby, Amelia.

The offence

Aliyah Marie Branum died after being beaten and subjected to blunt force trauma. Deputies said Huggett shook 2-year-old Aliyah and hit her head against the wall.

Officials said Huggett fractured Aliyah’s skull and caused multiple bruises. According to deputies, the child had bruises all over her body, including her face, head, arms, legs, back and shoulders. Other described injuries included swelling and bruising to her face and left eye swollen shut, bleeding on her brain, blood and yellow fluid draining from her ears, bleeding from her nose, and bruising to her privates.

Police and court documents described Huggett’s admitted conduct as including shaking Aliyah and covering her mouth with her hand to muffle her cries, followed by slamming Aliyah’s head into a wall and head-butting her. Aliyah lost consciousness and never reawakened.

Huggett initially told deputies her boyfriend had killed Aliyah by spraying bug spray. Later, she admitted to shaking her daughter twice because she would not stop “whining,” and she said she could not take the whining anymore and used strategies to quiet her child, including covering the child’s mouth with her hand “to muffle her cries.” She also admitted that she did not seek medical attention because people at the hospital would see the girl’s bruises.

Huggett was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, and she later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse.

Investigation

Deputies said they were called to Huggett's home and Aliyah was found not breathing, and resuscitation efforts failed; she was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy later determined that Aliyah died as a result of excessive trauma.

The manner of death was determined to be blunt force trauma. A medical examiner documented a skull fracture and bruising on her forehead, cheeks, lips, shoulders and back.

Department of Children and Families history

The Department of Children and Families investigated child abuse and neglect allegations twice. The first allegations surfaced in August and officials said they closed the case because there were no indicators of abuse; Huggett was apparently offered support services and a case worker reported that Huggett was cooperative and worked with them through December.

In January, officials presented another concern regarding the living conditions for the child in addition to a mark on Aliya’s back. Documentation showed that when seen the following day by child protection workers, Aliyah did not display any obvious signs of abuse or neglect on her body, including her back. Huggett accepted assistance with daycare, creating better visibility for the child in the community.

Huggett’s case also included allegations and findings described as follows: in a report, “When Aliyah was crying, the mother put a blanket over her mouth and she smacked her really hard on her legs. As a result, she sustained finger-shape welt marks.” Another allegation said that on “Jan. 8, 2013, Aliyah had a bruise on her lower back that resembled three fingers of a hand print” and that the allegation was made by Aliyah’s grandmother. Investigators did not find evidence of a beating, but a doctor documented linear and circular bruises on Aliyah’s thigh and concluded they were evidence of physical abuse. In an interview with an investigator, Huggett said she suffered from a “chemical imbalance” and “gets severely angry,” and she admitted she hit Aliyah as discipline.

When an investigator closed the case on Feb. 12, the investigator ruled the abuse allegation was “not substantiated.” The investigator wrote, “There is no evidence of any physical or sexual abuse; no injuries, marks or bruises on the child,”. The agency nevertheless extracted another safety plan from Huggett and her boyfriend in which the couple promised “no physical discipline.”

DCF officials said the agency confirmed that Aliyah was seen just two days prior to her death by emergency medical professionals for swollen hands, and at the time doctors did not find evidence of abuse.

Medical care before death

Aliyah was taken via ambulance to Citrus Memorial Hospital on April 24 for an issue involving her hands being swollen and was released later that day; Aliyah returned home with her mother. Witnesses said the child had no bruises.

On April 24, Huggett took Aliyah to treat swelling in her hands; later that evening, Aliyah became lethargic. Huggett told friends she thought Aliyah had consumed ant and roach killer, called poison control hotline, and the hotline told her to rush Aliyah to the hospital. When Huggett failed to follow orders, police said the hotline called to ask why. Huggett “told the hotline employee the victim was now fine.” In truth, Aliyah was suffering from a life-threatening attack, and Huggett later admitted she refused to seek medical care because she knew she’d be arrested.

Arrest

Huggett was arrested by Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies. Deputies said she was being held without bond on homicide and aggravated child abuse charges and declined speaking to the media in the days following the murder.

Huggett initially claimed her boyfriend killed Aliyah by spraying bug spray. Deputies said Huggett later admitted to shaking her daughter twice because she would not stop whining. Investigators said Huggett then slammed Aliyah’s head into the wall and head-butted her, and Aliyah went unconscious.

Sheriff Jeff Dawsy commented that “This isn't someone who snapped. I've seen snapped and this is brutal murder,” and called the case “sick and twisted” because Huggett failed to take any actions to save her child. Dawsy also said, “This is a brutal murder of a defenseless child, of a two-year-old, and she could have sought help of numerous occasions and she failed to do that.”

According to reports, Huggett told deputies she placed Aliyah in her bed, layed down next to her and watched her die. After a male roommate came home and noticed the child was not moving, the roommate called 911.

Investigators said when Huggett confessed, she expressed sorrow and remorse and “apologized to Aliyah.” Investigator Craig Fass said, “She apologized to Aliyah.”

Trial

Sentencing

On April 23, 2014, Judge Richard Howard sentenced Huggett to the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse earlier in the year in the death of her daughter.

At sentencing, Judge Richard Howard said:

“There is not a square inch of this child's face that's not beat to hell for lack of a better word,”

Before the sentence was handed down, Huggett’s mother and sister asked for the maximum sentence. Bonnie Huggett said:

“Please sentence Aliyah's killer to the maximum of 30 years so she can have justice,”

Sarah Huggett said:

“It takes a soulless person to harm a child and a demon to harm their own flesh and blood,”

Appeals

Outcome

Huggett pleaded guilty and received a 30-year prison sentence in April 23, 2014.

Huggett’s sentencing followed her guilty plea to second-degree murder and child abuse.

Aftermath

Huggett’s mother and father started an organization called Aliyah's Project. They wanted to educate and help other mothers who were having a difficult time.

An unidentified friend or family member created a page in memory of Aliyah on Facebook and posts photos of the little girl “almost weekly” along with messages including “Thoughts are with you today sweet angel Aliyah,” and “God has you safe in His keeping…We have you forever in our hearts”.

Brian Allen Jones was described as having been in custody since Friday on a probation violation. The Department of Children and Family Services confirmed Jones’s two daughters, ages 7 and 9, had been removed from the home. Jones was not charged in Aliyah’s death.

Timeline

• April 24, 2013 — Aliyah was taken via ambulance to Citrus Memorial Hospital for swelling in her hands, and she was released later that day and returned home with her mother.
• May 2, 2013 — Huggett admitted to shaking Aliyah at least twice the week before because she would not stop “whining,” and authorities described the admission in a follow-up interview.
• April 26, 2013 — Aliyah was found not breathing and deputies said Huggett shook her, covered her mouth with her hand to muffle cries, and slammed her head into a wall and head-butted her.
• February 26, 2014 — Huggett changed her plea from not guilty to guilty in Citrus County court.
• April 23, 2014 — Judge Richard Howard sentenced Huggett to 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse.
• April 24, 2014 — A report described the sentencing as a maximum sentence of 30 years.