2 Pine Hills women face first-degree murder charges in connection with 3-year-old's death

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two women were charged with first-degree murder and a third was charged with neglect Friday after the death of a  3-year-old boy found unresponsive in a Pine Hills apartment complex, deputies said.

The child, later identified as Xavier Mokarzel-Satchel, was transported to the hospital from the Eagle Landing Apartments on Dardanelle and Silver Star roads at about 12:10 p.m.

He was suffering from blunt force trauma, investigators said.

Deputies said three women, including the toddler's mother, were arrested in connection with the child's injuries.

The toddler was, "clinging to life," after being injured by adults, deputies said when they first responded to the incident.

He died at about 5:30 p.m., the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The women were identified as Lakesha Chantell Lewis, 28; Callene Marcia Barton, 58; and the boy's mother, Brandi Marie Mokarzel, 23.

Lewis was charged with first-degree murder; Barton was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with a witness; and Mokarzel was charged with neglect of a child with great bodily harm.

Deputies said one of the woman was the victim's mother, but did not say which one.

Pine Hills resident Eli Duncan was shocked by the toddler's death and the possibility that it could be a homicide.

"I'm, honestly, disgusted by the whole thing," he said. "I may have seen them on the bus or something. Doesn't matter. It's a 3-year-old. A 3-year-old."

Lewis' 4-year-old daughter, who was also living in the apartment, was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Cox Media Group