Mother faces more charges in daughter's death

The death of a 3-year-old girl who had been hit more than 50 times, according to court documents, has been ruled a homicide, Aurora police officials said Thursday.

The toddler's mother, Susie Ida Quartey, is accused in the girl's death. Quartey, 34, is charged with child abuse resulting in death, a class 2 felony.

The girl's death had initially been classified as suspicious before the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office ruled her death a homicide.

The arrest affidavit said the girl, Jolyn Torpoh, had been hit more than 50 times with a coat hanger and a broken towel rack, and say may also have been stabbed with a piece of a towel rack and kicked.

Quartey has told investigators that she was carrying Jolyn in a sling when the child fell out and onto rocks in their back yard.

She also faces felony charges of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust and assault with a deadly weapon.

Authorities said Quartey is from Ghana and was also under an immigration hold because her residency status was unclear.

A hearing is scheduled for Friday morning in the case.