Roseville, MI – A tragic case of fatal child abuse reached its conclusion this week as Kimora Launmei Hodges, 24, was found guilty of murder in the death of 23-month-old Kyrie Starks, a toddler she had been babysitting. The brutal 2022 incident shocked the Roseville community and drew national attention.
Toddler Found with Severe Head Injuries
On June 14, 2022, officers from the Roseville Police Department responded to a local hospital after medical staff reported a young child had arrived with severe head trauma. The child was later identified as Kyrie Starks, who had been under the care of Hodges — a neighbor who babysat him semi-regularly.
“He had blunt force trauma to the head and he was bleeding out his ears and had to have immediate brain surgery,” said the boy’s grieving mother.
Kyrie was reportedly thrown into a wall by Hodges, resulting in a critical brain injury that ultimately led to his death the following day, June 15, 2022.
Mother’s Account Reveals Timeline
Kyrie’s mother told police she had just picked him up from Hodges’ home on Little Mack Avenue when she noticed something was wrong. Hodges had earlier contacted the mother saying Kyrie didn’t look normal. Upon arrival, the mother found her son suffering repeated seizures.
“Once I made it there, my baby was on the ground having seizure, after seizure, after seizure,” she later shared in a statement.
Initially, Hodges claimed the child was having an allergic reaction after “eating soap,” a story the mother believed — until doctors explained the extent of the trauma and injuries.
Babysitter’s Confession Raises Questions
Hodges was arrested early the next morning at approximately 7:50 a.m., just hours after Kyrie was admitted to the hospital. During a subsequent police interview, she admitted to physically abusing the child while babysitting him.
“Maybe I hit him too hard, but I didn’t take my anger out on him,” Hodges told investigators, later adding, “You all just want me to say I put my anger on the victim. That’s not what it is.”
Initially charged with first-degree child abuse, Hodges’ charges were upgraded to murder following the boy’s death.
Guilty Verdict and Upcoming Sentencing
A Macomb County jury returned a guilty verdict against Hodges this past Thursday, convicting her on one count of murder. She is set to be sentenced on October 2, where she faces a possible sentence of life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors praised the medical staff and investigators for their swift action and careful documentation that helped secure the conviction. Hodges’ sentencing will take place in Macomb County Circuit Court.
Community Mourns a Life Cut Short
Family, friends, and community members have mourned the loss of Kyrie, a child described as “happy and full of light.” A GoFundMe page created by the mother detailed her heartbreak and betrayal, noting how much she had trusted Hodges, even caring for her and her daughter.
“I trusted her… I feel so betrayed because I would’ve done anything for [Hodges] & her daughter,” she wrote.
How do you think the justice system should handle child abuse cases like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.
