Aniya Day-Garrett murder trial: Dramatic testimony reveals pattern of disturbing alleged abuse

By Brian Duffy | March 4, 2019 at 11:07 PM EST - Updated March 4 at 11:07 PM

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - The prosecution put several witnesses on the stand Monday, including day care workers and the father of the victim, all alleging a pattern of abuse that was observed before Aniya Day-Garrett’s untimely death.

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Aniya Day-Garrett murder trial: Sierra Day looks on as testimony paints unsettling picture

Sierra Day and Deonte Lewis who are accused of aggravated murder in the death of 4-year-old Aniya.

A day care worker, during emotional testimony, said Aniya came in one day with a nasty cut on her nose. The worker asked Aniya what happened. “She said ‘Mommy pushed me,’ and I said ‘Mommy pushed you?’ And she said ‘Down some steps, mommy pushed me.’ ”

On another occasion, the day care worker noticed dried blood and blisters on Aniya’s head. “She said ‘Mommy hit me, mommy hurt me.’ She just kept saying over and over, ‘Mommy hit me, mommy hurt me.’ ”

The day care worker at that point insisted the day care director call the police. Aniya was eventually taken to Euclid General Hospital where Cuyahoga County social workers and the police questioned Sierra Day.

Brian Duffy@brianduffy19

Dramatic testimony today in murder trial of Sierra Day and Deonte Lewis. They are accused of the aggravated murder of Aniya Day-Garrett. Multiple witnesses testify of a pattern of alleged abuse. @cleveland19news

8:15 PM - Mar 4, 2019

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Another day care worker, who also worked as a babysitter, testified that Aniya showed up at her home with a black eye. “I asked Aniya and she was straightforward: 'Mommy hit me.” Sierra Day, when questioned, blamed the baby sitter for the injury.

Sierra Day quietly listened to the testimony all day, and silently shook her head.

Also on the stand was Aniya’s biological father Mickhal Garrett, who testified that during a September 2017 visit he noticed that Aniya had a bruise on her chest and back.

He filed a report with the East Cleveland Police. Sierra Day responded by filing a request for a restraining order claiming Garrett was stalking her. Garrett filed for custody of Aniya, but was unable to see her because of the restraining order.

Then in March of 2018, Garrett got a phone call telling him his daughter had died, “I think I lost it. I lost it. My mind could just not bear to think about something like that," he said.