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(KSL News/AP) -- The Davis County Attorney Office is reviewing the case against a Syracuse couple accused of beating their child to death.
Charges were expected to be filed Thursday afternoon, but now the County Attorney says they will more than likely file the charge Friday morning. They are expected to hold a press conference after the charges are filed, most likely around 9am.
Ten-year old Shelby Andrews died Tuesday night, from blunt-force trauma to the head; investigarors believe she was shoved head first into a wall.
Sandra Yi spoke with the girl's birth mother, Kimberly Hale, this afternoon. She had just returned from meeting with caseworkers in Ogden, where she learned more about her daughter's alleged abuse.
Shelby went to live with her father a few years ago after alleged abuse by her birth mother. Two years ago, Ryan Andrews filed a protective order against his ex-wife, Kimberly Hale, alleging the children were in danger. At that time, a judge forbade Kimberly from seeing her kids until the state completed an investigation.
DCFS says it did receive several complaints against Hale in the last few years.
Richard Anderson, DCFS: "Many of them were unsupported findings or allegations. A lot of chaotic lifestyle and things the families had. They weren't anything of this severity at all. They were much more of denying anything was happening here.
Kimberly Hale went to Shelby's home this afternoon and left balloons. We understand she is now trying to get custody of two other children, who are eight and 13 years old.
Hale says she wants her story to be told, she just wasn't prepared to tell it today. She plans on issuing a statement at some point through a spokesperson, possibly tomorrow.
Ryan W. Andrews, 38, was being held in the Davis County Jail Wednesday for investigation of child abuse-homicide in the death late Tuesday of Shelby L. Andrews. Bail was set at $500,000.
Police announced late Wednesday evening that the girl's stepmother, Angela Andrews, will also face felony murder charges.
The step-brother called 911 shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday to report that Shelby wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse, police Sgt. Mark Sessions said.
Dispatch: "9-1-1 Emergency" Caller: "Hi, my little sister's not breathing."
The parents were performing CPR when the ambulance and police arrived, but the child was obviously dead, Sessions said. An autopsy was pending.
Police noticed numerous old and new bruises on the girl's torso, and there also were fingernail and bite marks, Sessions said.
"Through interviews, it was found the father had lost control while disciplining her, and that was the possible cause of her death," Sessions said.
Police said the girl was beaten with a hand and a belt.
"He admitted to 25 to 30 hits with the belt," Sessions said. Investigators say the girl's step-mother, Angela Andrews joined in.
"I have never seen or heard of depraved indifference shown in a case like this did," Sessions said.
Police say the abuse had been going on for at least a year. Most of Shelby's body was covered with cuts and bruises. She wore clothes that hid the marks.
Police say Shelby came to live with her father and step-mother here several years ago after allegations of abuse by her biological mother.
Police say the couple verbally-abused their three other children, but Shelby was often singled out. Family members say the girl was bi-polar. The couple told police they were disciplining her, and it got out of hand.
Police say Shelby's death is the city's first murder in 23 years. It's hard for everyone involved; especially the victim's siblings who are now staying with other family.
Neighbors gathered Wednesday night for a candlelight memorial for Shelby Andrews.
Skylar Stark lives next door, but his neighbors were more like strangers.
Skylar Stark: "Their kids never were really allowed outside of the yard to play with any of the other children, and you never saw any of the other neighborhood kids in the their yard, in their home."
Still, what happened evokes strong feelings in the neighborhood. There's shock and sadness, even guilt.
Alex Carmichael, Neighbor: "She's our daughter's age, so it's kind of a sad deal thinking it was so close. We probably should have been able to do something about it."
Three other children ages 10, 13 and 16 live in the home, along with the victim's stepmother, who will face charges in this case.
A spokesperson for the Division of Child and Family Services says, it has never been called to the home before. DCFS and Police are interviewing them. Ryan Andrews is in jail, for child abuse homicide.
