Neglect by family members is being blamed for the Christmas Day death of a 7-year-old girl on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, according to federal charges announced Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Charges: Family neglect killed 7-year-old girl on Christmas Day on Red Lake Reservation
State death records reveal that Jewel died in the emergency room from malnutrition and a severe infection from lice.
June 23, 2023 at 8:48PM
Felony child neglect indictments were filed against two people in connection with the death of Jewel Sky Fineday on Dec. 25 at the Indian Health Service. Charged are her father, Julius Garrett Fineday, 41, and her grandmother Sharon Marie Rosebear, 63.
The two of them deprived Jewel "of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, and supervision, despite being reasonably able to make the necessary provisions," Thursday's announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office read.
Neither the statement nor publicly accessible court records reveal any further details behind the alleged neglect.
However, state death records reveal that Jewel died in the Indian Health Service emergency room from malnutrition and a severe infection from lice.
Fineday and Rosebear remain free on personal recognizance bond. Rosebear's attorney declined Friday to comment about the allegations, and messages were left for the other defendant's attorney. Future court proceedings for the defendants have yet to be scheduled.
"Jewel loved to spend time watching TikTok on her dad's phone," according to her online obituary. "Jewel was a very quiet girl, and when Grandpa would sing and beat his drum, she would dance just hard and out dance all the other kids."
Jewel's native name was "Miikawaddizimikinaakikezens," meaning "Beautiful Turtle Girl," the obituary noted. "She loved turtle[s] especially sea turtles."
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