A mother accused of killing her 23-month-old child in Bridgeton told police she struck the boy “because he would not eat nor listen to her,” according to the criminal complaint against her.
Nakira M. Griner, 24, of Bridgeton, is charged with murder in the death of her son, Daniel Griner Jr.
On Monday, documents filed by investigators revealed a brutal series of allegations:
Griner admitted striking the child so hard that it left bruises on his face, and also said he fell down a flight of stairs. After striking the child, she didn’t call for help, but placed him in a stroller and left him alone, according to the criminal complaint.
Police responded to area of Giles and New streets around 6:30 p.m. Friday for a report of a woman screaming and found Griner, who told them a stranger had attacked her on Atlantic Street while she was walking with Daniel in a stroller and her infant son strapped to her chest.
She said her assailant kicked her and she fell to the ground as the attacker continued to kick her in the head and right side. When she looked up, the stroller and Daniel was gone, she told police.
Police found the stroller, containing only a pair of red sneakers.
During an interview with police, she said Daniel, “liked going with strangers and she did not remember if she heard him screaming during the attack.”
Her attacker didn’t demand money or take a $5,000 ring she was wearing, Griner told police.
As police sought surveillance camera footage, her story about where the assault occurred changed to another street. No video could be found to support her claim and Griner agreed to take a polygraph, which she failed.
She then told police she left Daniel, still alive, in the stroller on Devonshire Place “because she wanted someone to find him and help him because no one would believe her.”
The remains were found around 3 a.m.
In their report, police describe finding human remains in trash bags under the shed. The report also states “burnt remains of what appeared to be a child were located in Nakira’s purse under the shed …”
Investigators have not revealed Daniel’s cause of death or exactly when they believe he died.