Three-year-old Blessing Buckles was fatally beaten by a 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy on February 12, 2024, at a home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while eight children (ages 11 months to 12 years) were left unsupervised. The two mothers — Dineshia Yates (Blessing's mother) and Terica Scott (mother and aunt of the juvenile suspects) — had gone to a casino. When deputies responded to a 911 call made by a child, they found Blessing unresponsive with a brain bleed, bruises, and abrasions consistent with blunt force trauma. She died from multiple blunt force injuries on February 14, 2024. Both mothers were aware that one of the juvenile suspects had a history of violence toward other children and had observed resulting bruises, yet they continued to leave the children unattended, with Yates reportedly ignoring her children's pleas for help. All four individuals — the two juveniles and two adults — were charged with murder.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple articles explicitly state that the children were left unattended. The KBTX article reports: "deputies later learned eight children, ranging in age from 11 months to 12 years, had allegedly been left unattended at the home for several hours." Additionally, "the two women would allegedly leave them unattended often." The adults had gone to a casino, leaving no supervision whatsoever, which directly led to the fatal beating.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The FOIA document states the cause of death as "Multiple Blunt Force Injuries" and the manner of death as "Homicide." The news articles describe the child as having been "beaten to death," with "bruises and abrasions to the face and body consistent with blunt force trauma" and a "brain bleed." The KBTX article states: "Four people, including two children, are facing murder charges after a 3-year-old Louisiana girl was allegedly beaten to death."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The child's biological mother, Dineshia Yates, was charged with principal to second-degree murder and principal to simple battery. The KBTX article identifies her as "Dineshia Yates, 26; the mother of 3-year-old Blessing" and states she "was arrested the following day and charged with principal to second-degree murder and principal to simple battery." She left her children unattended, knew about the violent behavior of another child in the home, and "ignored her children's pleas for help," according to arrest records.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Terica Scott, 26, is described as a female friend/associate of the victim's mother. The KBTX article identifies her as "the mother and aunt of the juvenile suspects" who was charged with "principal to second-degree murder and principal to battery." She was housing Yates and her children, was aware of her nephew's violent behavior toward other children, and left the children unattended to go to the casino. She is not a relative of the victim but rather a friend/associate of the victim's mother who bore custodial responsibility.
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Both adult women were arrested and charged. The KBTX article states: "Scott was arrested Friday and is facing charges of principal to second-degree murder and principal to battery. Yates was arrested the following day and charged with principal to second-degree murder and principal to simple battery." The Miami Herald article confirms: "Both women were charged with principal to battery and principal to second-degree murder."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from this case. First, two minors — a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old — were themselves charged with second-degree murder and simple battery for the fatal beating, which is highly unusual. The KBTX article states they "were both arrested Friday and booked into the EBR Juvenile Detention Center for simple battery and second-degree murder." Second, the Miami Herald article notes that another child, a 4-year-old girl, was also found with bruises at the home: "They also said they found bruises on a 4-year-old girl who was also at the home." Third, Terica Scott reportedly told detectives that both she and the victim's mother "knew of her nephew's violent behavior toward other children and often observed bruises on kids when they were left with him" (per the Miami Herald), establishing that the adults had prior knowledge of a clear danger pattern. DCFS was contacted about the case per the sheriff's office.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.