Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
6-Year-Old Son May Testify Against Mom In Malnourished Girl Trial
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 9, 2012
Modified Mar 9, 2012
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
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 9, 2012
Modified Mar 9, 2012
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
Last year, a severely malnourished 4-year-old girl—weighing a scant 18 pounds—was found dead in her Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment with bruises all over her body. A blame war ensued over the death of Marchella Pierce, but mother Carlotta Brett-Pierce was arrested and charged with her death. Today, prosecutors argued that it was essential to their case to let Brett-Pierce's six-year-old son, who previously told authorities that his mother forced pills down his sister’s throat and beat her with a belt, testify. "He needs to be left alone," Brett-Pierce blurted out in court. "Just leave him alone!"
Prosecutor Jacqueline Kagan said 6-year-old Tymel's testimony would be a key witness, able to show his mom's "depravity" and "reckless conduct." "That's ridiculous, she doesn't have a leg to stand on," Brett-Pierce interjected. "This is my life, and they're saying I did things I didn't do." Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango said she could throw Brett-Pierce out of the courtroom, but allowed her to speak instead because “it’s important that the record reflects who you really are.”
DiMango and Kagan discussed whether Tymel should testify on closed circuit TV before trial begins April 10; DiMango said she'd make her decision in the next few days. The discussion began after social worker Maria Rivera testified that Tymel still images talking and playing with his sister: "He's too young to understand the permanence and what happens when you die...He still is trying to understand where his mother is and what happened to Chella," Rivera said. "He misses his sister very much."
Earlier this year, Detective Matthew Lamendola testified at a hearing that Brett-Pierce admitted to him that she tied up the little girl several times: “Her words were, ‘She was acting crazy and her little ass was wilding out.’” In addition to Brett-Pierce, grandmother Loretta Brett has been charged with manslaughter. Two former Administration of Children's Services (ACS) employees were indicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide, which was the first time in state history that welfare workers were charged with the death of a child. The ACS Commissioner during the incident, John Mattingly, also resigned, though supposedly not because of the scrutiny his agency came under in the wake of Marchella's death.
Tagged
brooklyn
tethering
carlotta brett-pierce
malnourished girl
marchella pierce
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 11:29 a.m. ET
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
The Justice Department sued demonstrators who protested at a synagogue, under a law aimed at shielding abortion clinics.
By
Willow Higgins
News
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
The Justice Department sued demonstrators who protested at a synagogue, under a law aimed at shielding abortion clinics.
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
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 .