Woman charged with murder after toddler's body found in Philadelphia park

[Banana Metropolis]

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A woman has been charged with murder in
the death of a toddler whose body was found buried in a
Philadelphia park earlier this week.

33-year-old Nyishia Corbitt, who had been staying at a
relative's apartment in the 5600 block of Ogontz Avenue, has
been charged with Murder, Abuse of a Corpse and other offenses.

Nyishia Corbitt

The child, 1-year-old Alina Barnes, died from suffocation a week
before her body was found, police said. Police have not
disclosed the circumstances of the child's death.

When asked why Corbitt allegedly suffocated the child,
Philadelphia Police Capt. John Ryan said, "We're not going to
discuss what Ms. Corbitt told us."

Ryan described Corbitt as "very distraught."

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Philadelphia police Capt. John Ryan holds a news conference on
October 18, 2018 on the murder of a 1-year-old girl.

Corbitt had been caring for the child for several weeks, police
say. She has two young children with Barnes' father, though she
is not Barnes' mother. The child's mother is in Montgomery
County prison on retail theft charges.

Barnes' father was not present during the week the child was
missing, police say.

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Body of 2-year-old girl found partially buried in park,
caregiver questioned. Bob Brooks reports during Action News at
4pm on October 16, 2018.

According to police, surveillance video from Tuesday, October 9
showed Corbitt leaving the apartment complex in the 5600 block
of Ogontz with Barnes in a child carrier. Police believe the
child was already dead at that time.

Corbitt took the child to the park then returned to the
apartment complex, police say.

Corbitt allegedly told her mother the child was missing the
following Monday, October 15. Her mother "did the right thing,"
investigators say, and called police.

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Chopper 6 Video: Police search Logan park on October 16, 2018.

During the investigation, police say Corbitt led investigators
to Kemble Park on Ogontz and West Olney avenues.

They began to search for the girl early Tuesday morning before
daybreak, using equipment like saws and shovels. Police brought
in a cadaver dog who hit on something in a wooded area.

The body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in a wooded
area and was recovered later that morning.

No one else has been charged in this case, according to Ryan,
but he said more charges are possible.

Corbitt's children are staying with other family members.

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Missing person search leads police to Logan park. Matt O'Donnell
reports during Action News Mornings on October 16, 2018.

Ryan said he could not say whether Barnes had any other signs of
abuse. He said the state Department of Human Services was
involved in the case, but said he could not provide details.

Ryan said Corbitt had seven other previous "contacts with
police" but he could not say what she had previously been
charged with. He said none of the charges were for violent
crimes.

https://6abc.com/woman-charged-with-murder-after-toddlers-body-
found-in-park/4509543/