Photo: People
She was beaten to death during potty training.
By Emily Blackwood — Written on Sep 09, 2018
No one really knows how long 3-year-old Kimora Monique Simon had been missing.
While some had speculated that the Michigan toddler hadn't been seen for months or longer, it wasn't until her 5-year-old brother's teacher suspected he was being abused that the dark truth finally came out.
Kimora's parents — Erika Finely and Khairy Simon — admitted that the toddler had been killed a year ago. And her mother had been receiving her welfare benefits since.
According to Simon, 27, he and Finley, 29, were beating the toddler as punishment during potty training. They repeatedly struck her with their fists and an extension cord.
“I tried to stop her, but she’s domineering,” Simon said in court.“She’s much bigger than me. And at that time, she felt like she had to get her point across.”
Police believe the murder — which was committed in 2015 — was done by both parents.
Although Simon told police that he buried Kimora's body along nearby train tracks, her remains have never been bound. The district attorney said animals are likely the reason why.
The parents were initially charged in December of 2016, and Simon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and removing a dead body without the permission of the medical examiner. In doing so, he agreed to testify against Finley.
Finley later pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse, tampering with evidence and welfare fraud. Her attorney read a letter of apology on her behalf.
“I cannot tell you how much I miss my daughter,” the letter reads. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am to everyone for what has happened during this situation."
"I was a mother who did everything I could for my children, trying to provide for them and take care of them the best that I can. … I realize I have to be punished and I know that no matter how much time I do it’s not going to bring my daughter back.”
Simon also apologized for the murders and said, "I ask for forgiveness."
The judge was not having it.
“Ms. Finley — you have a stain on your soul,” he said. “The heinous act that you did causes every mother in this community to wonder why. Every parent in this community is appalled. You tried to shift some of the blame to the other gentleman. You could have stopped what happened.”
“Your participation in all of this was selfish and cruel and sad," he said of Simon. "Just sad. This poor defenseless child.”
Simon was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison, and Finley was sentenced to 15 to 40 years. Kimora's two older brothers were placed in foster care.
Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTango’s Facebook page.