A Florida court officially sentenced a 14-year-old girl to a maximum-risk juvenile program for beating her grandmother to death.
The case dates back to May 23 when Sofia Koval was left alone with her 79-year-old grandmother, Yevheniia Koval, in their Lauderdale Lakes home. Officers responded to the condo, where a man informed authorities that he found his mother covered in bruises and was unresponsive.
It was discovered that Yevheniia was beaten to death, leading to Sofia's arrest. At the start of the criminal trial, it was decided she would be charged as an adult, Local 10 reported.
"She's been going through a lot because she wants her mom, who is in the UK. She can't get over here," a family friend identified as Ms. Johnson said.
Despite pleading no contest to the manslaughter charge on Wednesday, Sofia was sentenced to spend three years in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice program. She will remain there until she turns 21.
Prosecutors noted that the teen would likely be transferred to federal custody for deportation back to Ukraine, considering she is not a U.S. citizen.
