Raped, Tortured 5-Year-Old Discharged: GoFundMe Builds As Police Weigh Trying Suspect As Adult

A raped and tortured 5-year-old girl has been released from the hospital after encountering a teen burglar at her home in the middle of the night.

According to a report from NBC Philadelphia, Cynia, daughter of 29-year-old Vyneeka Hopkins, had gotten up in the middle of the night and encountered the 15-year-old male suspect in the hallway.

The teen, who was arrested Monday night, abducted, sexually assaulted, and beat the 5-year-old unconscious, leaving her for dead in the backyard of the North Philadelphia home.

Vyneeka and searchers found the little girl the next morning. In comments reported by NBC and Action News, the mother describes the horror she felt, telling reporters that she found the little girl lying still in the weeds outside their home, “covered in blood.”

“I thought she was dead. She wasn’t moving,” Hopkins said.

In a follow up on the family’s GoFundMe page, Vyneeka confirmed that her little “fighter” was discharged from the hospital.

“Cynia was discharged and is in great spirits,” she said. “Her bravery and energy is so admirable I’m pulling my strength from her! Sincere Thanks to anyone who donated on her behalf it is received with great appreciation.”

The family was seeking $5,000 in medical expenses and has pulled to around 60 percent of that goal at $2,950. Interested parties can donate here.

As for how the injuries are faring, Vyneeka said that Cynia can barely “open her eyes right now, but she’s in good spirits.”

“She has to do a strictly liquid diet for the next six weeks,” the mother added.

The Action News report adds that the 15-year-old will be charged with having raped the little girl and attempting to commit murder. In that report, it gives a few more details regarding the assault, noting that Cynia found the teen, whom she did not recognize, when he appeared from behind a door.

He then took her by the hand and led her into the backyard, where the assault occurred.

Philadelphia Police Captain John Darby called the attack “as bad as it gets,” but could not say whether the teen would be charged as an adult for the crime.

“We’re looking at this as a stranger residential intrusion and child abduction, and an aggravated assault on that child,” he was able to confirm in comments to NBC Philadelphia.

What do you think, readers? Should the teen be charged as an adult, if found guilty of having raped the 5-year-old, or is 15 too young? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image via GoFundMe, linked above]