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Print This StoryMom: 'I Killed Daughter To Send Her To Better Place'
6-Year-Old Run Over By Car Friday
UPDATED: 5:47 p.m. EST April 1, 2002
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -- A Trumbull County woman is accused of intentionally running over her daughter with a car.
NewsChannel5 reported that the 6-year-old girl, Samantha Mae Martin (pictured, left), died Friday.
Sherry Marie Delker (pictured, below), 27, of Austintown, was charged with aggravated murder in connection with her daughter's hit-and-run death.
She first told police it was a hit-and-run accident, but later admitted to killing the girl. Police said that Delker confessed to running her daughter down outside a church -- a church where she told police she came to ask for forgiveness.
According to police, Delker said she wanted to send her daughter to "a better place" because officials "were trying to take her baby away" and she wanted "to stop the abuse."
Sam Urmson was outside the morning it happened. He thought the woman driving the dark-colored car hit his dog, but it wasn't the dog.
"I came up here, I stood by the steps, I (saw) her get out and throw (the girl) in the back," he said.
Police said that Delker is currently being treated for schizophrenia. An autopsy revealed that Samantha had been sexually assaulted. Detectives are believed to be pursuing that in a separate investigation.
Delker is being held without bond in the Trumbull County Jail. If convicted, she could face the death penalty because the case involves a child under 13.
NewsChannel5 reported that the 6-year-old girl, Samantha Mae Martin (pictured, left), died Friday.
Sherry Marie Delker (pictured, below), 27, of Austintown, was charged with aggravated murder in connection with her daughter's hit-and-run death.
She first told police it was a hit-and-run accident, but later admitted to killing the girl. Police said that Delker confessed to running her daughter down outside a church -- a church where she told police she came to ask for forgiveness.
According to police, Delker said she wanted to send her daughter to "a better place" because officials "were trying to take her baby away" and she wanted "to stop the abuse."
Sam Urmson was outside the morning it happened. He thought the woman driving the dark-colored car hit his dog, but it wasn't the dog.
"I came up here, I stood by the steps, I (saw) her get out and throw (the girl) in the back," he said.
Police said that Delker is currently being treated for schizophrenia. An autopsy revealed that Samantha had been sexually assaulted. Detectives are believed to be pursuing that in a separate investigation.
Delker is being held without bond in the Trumbull County Jail. If convicted, she could face the death penalty because the case involves a child under 13.
Copyright 2002 by NewsNet5. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
