Long Island Mother Accused of Killing Daughter

MYFOXNY.COM -- A young mother has been charged with killing her own daughter in Roosevelt, Long Island, authorities said.

Shawnta Montgomery, 20, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. She is seven months pregnant, and according to police she beat her daughter Deshawna, 2, to death for misbehaving while brushing her teeth Friday morning.

Police said Montgomery used an object to repeatedly strike her little girl. The beating lacerated Deshawna's liver and she bled internally and then died.

The toddler lived with her mother and her mother's boyfriend, Benjamin Smith. He is not believed to be involved in the beating, but is wanted for attempted murder in Virginia for allegedly shooting into the home where Montgomery lived in Virginia last year.

Smith was arrested.

The little girl's father is in Virginia on active duty in the Navy. The couple had just moved here a month ago from Virginia.