Mom Accused of Killing Disabled Teen Daughter Because She ‘Didn’t Want Her Anymore’

A Michigan mother is facing murder charges after prosecutors say she brutally beat her 14-year-old daughter with autism to death because she no longer wanted to care for her and wanted to focus on her relationship instead.

Vangie Renee Averhart, 37, is accused in the death of her daughter, Kylee Clark, who died at a hospital days after suffering catastrophic injuries in July. This week, Averhart appeared in court in Detroit, where a judge ruled there was enough evidence for her to stand trial on charges including murder and child abuse.

According to testimony summarized by local media, Averhart’s boyfriend told the court he left the pair alone for about 10 minutes on July 7 at their home. When he returned, Averhart was screaming for help. He said Kylee was in obvious distress and making unusual noises. He removed food from her mouth and attempted CPR before paramedics rushed her to the hospital, where she later died.

A child abuse pediatrician testified that Kylee suffered massive blunt force trauma to the head, causing a severe brain bleed.

“She suffered a massive, significant intracranial injury that ultimately led to her death,” the doctor told the court, adding that the injuries were consistent with multiple direct blows and would have required significant force.

Prosecutors allege Averhart no longer wanted to care for Kylee, who was nonverbal and had both autism and Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects development. They say Averhart repeatedly expressed that she “didn’t want” her daughter anymore and wanted to be with her boyfriend instead.

“She wasn’t interested in protecting Kylee,” a prosecutor said in court. “She made it very clear she wanted to be with her boyfriend.”

The defense has attempted to shift blame onto Averhart’s boyfriend, claiming he struck Kylee after she spilled milk. However, prosecutors say the boyfriend has consistently denied harming the girl, passed a polygraph test, and was not present when the injuries occurred.

Investigators testified that Averhart gave multiple conflicting explanations for Kylee’s injuries, first claiming the teen choked on a sandwich, then a banana, before accusing others. None of the accounts matched the medical findings, authorities said.

Prosecutors also revealed that Kylee allegedly lived in a locked room and that Child Protective Services had previously investigated Averhart multiple times over safety concerns. Family members told local news outlets that Kylee’s father had been trying to gain custody in the months before her death.

According to relatives, Averhart allegedly told him, “You can have her, I don’t want her.”

Kylee died five days after the injuries were inflicted. Her family described her as a gentle, joyful child who loved music, colors, textures, and her favorite snacks.

“Kylee had a vibrant soul and a beautiful way of experiencing the world,” her obituary read. “She brought brightness into every room with her spirit.”

Averhart remains jailed without bond and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 26.