Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Malnourished Girl's Mother Charged With Assault
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Sep 4, 2010
Modified Sep 4, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Sep 4, 2010
Modified Sep 4, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The mother of a 4-year-old girl found dead at barely 15 pounds in a squalid Brooklyn apartment was charged with assault yesterday after bruises found on the girls' body didn't match her claim that she suffered them in a fall. But as she was walked from the 81st Precinct office, Carlotta Brett-Pierce, 30, yelled, "I did not kill my baby!"
Marchella Pierce's autopsy results could mean more charges for Brett-Pierce, as Marchella was found with rope marks on her wrists and ankles. When police found her, her arms and legs were reportedly tied to the crib, and she appeared to have underdeveloped lungs. Her father says her lung problems were a result of her premature birth. Brett-Pierce was also charged with drug possession after marijuana and cocaine were found in her purse. According to some of her neighbors, this is no surprise.
Neighbor Elizabeth Soto said, "They were troublemakers . . . They would always open the door and throw things at you. You had to duck...All they would do was go out and buy drugs. Crack. You could smell it...The way they were living in that apartment, they would open that door and you'd get sick." However, another had a different story. Jaquan Kinsey told WCBS, “She’s a good parent. I don’t know what happened behind closed doors, but outdoors she was a good parent."
The family had been monitored by the Administration for Children’s Services since November, after Brett-Pierce gave birth to a boy with drugs in his system. Starting in January, the family was aided by the Child Development Support Corporation, but on Thursday, ACS accused the Corporation of not making the required number of visits. Brett-Pierce's two other children, sons aged 6 and nine months, are currently in ACS custody.
Tagged
arrest
assault
brooklyn
carlotta brett-pierce
drugs
malnourished girl
marchella pierce
reckless endangerment
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .