COLUMBUS, OH – A 41-year-old Ohio woman has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly confessing to police that she killed her young daughter by placing a bag over the child’s head.
Sharon Sakoulos faces murder charges in the death of 3-year-old Cassidy Sakoulos, who was found unresponsive Wednesday afternoon at a Columbus residence.
Emergency responders received a 911 call at approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police arrived at the scene to find the toddler unresponsive. Cassidy was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead roughly 30 minutes later.
According to court filings, the child displayed visible bruises on her body when examined by medical personnel. Investigators reported that Sakoulos disclosed to detectives during questioning that she “intentionally killed the girl by placing a bag over her head.”
Sakoulos was expected to appear for arraignment Friday to face the murder charge.
Franklin County Children’s Services indicated they had “no interactions with the family in more than a year and a half,” suggesting no recent involvement with child protective services prior to Cassidy’s death.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Columbus community, where neighbors expressed disbelief at the allegations.
Authorities have not released additional details about what may have motivated the alleged killing or whether any other individuals were present in the home at the time of the child’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing.
