DYON CHEYENNE JOHNSON - 1 yo - Las Vegas NV

A 1-year-old Las Vegas girl suffered a fatal
blow to her head before she was rushed to a hospital late Friday night,
according to the Clark County Coroner's Office.




Dyon Cheyenne Johnson's death was the result of child abuse, officials said, although no suspect has been identified.

The girl's family said she was left in the
care of her godmother, who disappeared after bringing the child to
University Medical Center just before midnight.

Johnson's grandmother, Evelynn Simms,
identified the godmother as 23-year-old MaryAnn Harris, although police
have not confirmed her identity.

Simms said Harris may be in Las Vegas or California.

Anyone with information about the child's
death is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or the Metro
Police Homicide Section at 702-828-3521.


http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/15264943/vegas-police-say-baby-victim-of-child-abuse

Investigators are revealing new information on how 14-month-old Dyon
Johnson was allegedly abused and murdered by her godmother, Mariann
Harris.
Southern California authorities booked 23-year-old Harris on a
fugitive warrant late Wednesday night after Harris fled Las Vegas for a
relative's home in Victorville, Calif.

After the baby's August 12 death, there was speculation about how the
infant suffered the blunt force trauma that caused her death.

Investigators now say they believe it had nothing to do with a fall,
but rather a metal bar that Harris used to strike the little girl.

According to court documents, the paramedics that arrived to Harris'
apartment home noticed the child was cold, had glossy eyes, and had
probably been dead for some time. Once at the hospital, doctors noticed
Dyon was covered in bruises around her face, head and collar bone.

Harris told detectives Dyon had gotten those injuries after falling down the stairs. But detectives say her story kept changing.

While searching inside the home, officers found a green metal pipe, which they now believe Harris used to beat the infant.

Once she's extradited to Las Vegas, Harris will face child abuse and murder charges.

Funeral services for Dyon will be held Saturday morning at Palm Mortuary near Owens and Main.
http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/128498838.html

A woman was arrested in California on Wednesday in the death of an
infant who was taken to University Medical Center earlier this month
with extensive injuries, Metro Police said.


Mariann Harris, 23, was taken into custody late Wednesday night at
the home of a relative in Victorville, Calif., police said. She was
arrested on Metro warrants on counts of first-degree murder, child abuse
and child abuse with a deadly weapon, police said.


Just before midnight on Aug. 12, Metro Police responded to the
hospital after being informed that a 1-year-old girl had been brought to
UMC, where she later died of extensive injuries, police said.


The child previously has been identified by the Clark County Coroner’s Office as Dyon Johnson.


After investigation by Metro’s Abuse and Neglect Detail and Homicide
Section, it was determined that Harris had been caring for the child at
her residence at the time, police said.


Metro Police previously said the child had been in the custody of the
caregiver, but there were multiple people at the caregiver’s residence
around the time the injuries occurred.


Harris was in custody at the San Bernardino County Jail awaiting extradition to Las Vegas, police said
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/25/woman-arrested-death-1-year-old-girl/

A 23-year-old woman arrested for a Las Vegas
infant's death earlier this month will remain in jail without bail after
a hearing Tuesday.


MariAnn Harris, 23, made her first appearance
in a Clark County courtroom after being booked last week on
first-degree murder and child abuse charges connected to the death of
her goddaughter, one-year-old Dyon Johnson.

According to Las Vegas Metro police, the
child was in Harris' care Aug. 12 at the woman's apartment on Bonanza
Road near Blue Lagoon Drive. Detectives said she shared that unit with
her boyfriend and three children.

Authorities and emergency personnel were
called to the home just before midnight after Harris called 911 saying
the child was not breathing.

The child was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy revealed the one-year-old died of
blunt force trauma to the head and had bruises to the face, scalp and
both collar bones, along with a severe fracture at the base of her
skull.

According to Harris' arrest report,
police found a green metal pipe at Harris' apartment which belonged to a
bar stool in the unit's kitchen. When questioned, Harris denied any use
of the pipe.

In addition, police said Harris changed her
story, at first claiming she found the child on the floor not breathing
after getting out of a shower, then saying Johnson fell down some
stairs.

Harris is scheduled to next appear in court Sept. 6.
http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/15358658/no-bail-for-vegas-woman-in-infants-death

The woman accused of killing her 14-month-old goddaughter in August
was indicted by the Clark County District Attorney on Friday.
Mariann Harris faces charges for murder and three counts of child abuse.

Dyon Johnson died the night of August 12th after being injured in a Las Vegas apartment. The Clark County Coroner's office ruled Dyon Johnson's death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Further investigation revealed clues that Mariann Harris beat the baby with a metal pipe or bar, which proved fatal, authorities said.

Following Johnson's death, Harris fled to southern California to stay
with relatives. Investigators later issued a fugitive warrant and arrested Harris on suspicion of murder.

Harris was jailed Victorville, Calif. before being extradited to Las Vegas.

Court documents released after Harris' indictment accuse Harris of
child abuse against two other children besides Dyon Johnson. Documents
say Harris abused 3-year-old Ramani Foster and 2-year-old Marion
Foster.

Harris made her first court appearance on Tuesday for an arrest warrant hearing. The judge denied her bail.

Harris will next face arraignment on her charges.
http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/129163823.html

LAS VEGAS -- The woman accused of beating a toddler to death with a metal pipe has pleaded not guilty.

Mariann Harris is facing murder and child abuse
charges in the death of 14-month-old Dyon Johnson on Aug. 13. Harris
told child's mother that the girl became injured when she fell down some
stairs. Harris was the child's godmother and babysitter.

Harris is due back in court for her trial Nov. 7.
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15420010/breaking-news-woman-pleads-not-guilty-in-childs-death