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19-Year-Old Mom Charged In Baby Girl's Death Makes Brief Court Appearance

Sierra Tankersley
Sierra Tankersley (credit: Detroit Police Department)

DETROIT (WWJ) - A hearing for a young Detroit mother charged in the beating death of her infant daughter has been postponed until next month.

Sierra Tankersley, 19, appeared briefly in 36th District Court on Tuesday for a scheduled preliminary exam on felony murder and first degree child abuse charges in the death of 1-year-old Malayh.

Tankersley was alone and was visibly nervous, reported WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett, as she briefly waved to a group of about a dozen relatives and friends seated nearby.

A "no show" by her defense attorney, due to a scheduling conflict, led to an adjournment until Monday, Dec. 8.

Authorities responded to a 911 call from Tankersley's home in the 9600 block of Brace St., near the Southfield Freeway and Chicago Ave., around noon on Nov. 2, where they found the baby on the floor, unresponsive.

Malayh was rushed to a local hospital where she later died. The cause of death was found to be multiple blunt force trauma, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Tankersley's other daughter, a 2-year-old, was taken by authorities from the home on the Malayh was found dead.

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