An 11-year-old boy in Wylie died after his family allegedly beat him, gave him sleeping pills, and waited more than nine hours to call 911, according to police and court documents.
On the evening of June 8, the boy was subjected to physical “discipline” at a home in the 1600 block of Long Meadow Road. Arrest warrant affidavits state that Sadie Hope, 28, and Sade Hope-Johnson York, 30, restrained the boy while their grandfather, Clifford Johnson, 67, struck his back, legs, and buttocks. The three adults also hit the boy’s head, legs, back, and bottom, leaving bruises across his body.
“Sadie stated after the physical discipline, she gave [him] approximately two Tylenol PMs and two Benadryl pills to make him go to sleep,” the affidavit notes, per Fox 4 KDFW.
By 8 a.m. the next morning, Sadie Hope was called to the boy’s room and realized he was deceased. A family member told investigators they feared consequences due to the boy’s condition. Instead of contacting authorities, the family attempted CPR, cleaned his body, placed him in a wheelchair for about four hours, and later moved him back to his bed. They delayed calling 911 until just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, more than nine hours after discovering his death.
Emergency responders found the boy unconscious, attempted to revive him, and transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Wylie police arrested Clifford Johnson, Eunice Johnson-Lightsey, Sadie Hope, and Sade Hope-Johnson York on Wednesday, charging them with injury to a child and abandoning and endangering a child. The suspects are the boy’s grandfather, aunt, and two cousins, respectively.
Investigators noted inconsistencies in the family’s statements and visible injuries on the boy, prompting a deeper probe.
“It’s tragic that a child lost his life at the hands of family,” said Wylie Police Sgt. Donald English. “Other kids in the home may have seen this and will carry that trauma forever.”
Eunice Johnson-Lightsey denied knowing the boy was dead before the 911 call, per the affidavit. Other children in the home have been removed, though their ages and numbers are undisclosed. The boy’s identity has not been released, and the medical examiner is still determining the exact cause of death.
On Tuesday, police executed a search warrant at the residence, leading to the arrests of all four suspects.