NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele
and Abington Township Police Chief John A. Livingood announce the arrest of Lisa Smith, 19, and Keiff King, 26, both of Willow Grove in Abington Township, for Aggravated Assault,
Criminal Attempted Murder of the First-Degree, Aggravated Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and related charges in the death of 4-year-old Tahjir Smith.
At approximately 6:11 p.m., Abington Township Police responded to a report of a respiratory emergency. Paramedics arrived to find the boy limp and unresponsive. He was transported to Abington Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Montgomery County Detectives and Abington Police began a joint investigation that revealed that earlier in the day Tahjir had been beaten by both defendants at their home in the 1800 block of Lukens Avenue after he had spilled his breakfast cereal. He was repeatedly struck about the head and torso, using both a hand and a shoe.
On Jan. 23, 2018, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Ian Hood with the Montgomery County Coroner’s
Office completed an autopsy on the child. In addition to the fresh injuries to the boy’s body, Dr. Hood also found old rib fractures. Dr. Hood is awaiting further test results before opining on the cause and manner of death.
“This senseless death of a 4-year-old boy at the hands of the very adults who are supposed to care for him and keep him safe is a horrible tragedy,” said Steele. “This is the face of domestic violence—a preschooler was beaten until he stopped breathing because he spilled his cereal. We have charged the mother and her boyfriend and will be the voice for justice for Tahjir.”
The defendant was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge John D. Kessler, who set bail for each defendant at $500,000. They failed to post bail and were remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m., Jan. 31, 2018
