Sumpter Township couple accused in death of Girl

The Sumpter Township couple charged in the death of 4-year-old Gabrielle Barrett will remain behind bars without bond pending trial, a magistrate ruled during their arraignment Saturday. Candice Diaz, the girl's mother, and Brad Fields, the mother's boyfriend, were arrested in Georgia Jan. 9, transported back to Michigan and arraigned in 34th District Court on charges of felony murder, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse and torture. The petition filed in Wayne County Family Court said Sumpter Township police found Gabrielle with burns and bruises all over her body. The bruises were in varying stages of healing, officials said. The petition also states 11 examples of physical abuse. State police investigated the crime scene and found a large amount of melted skin in the bathtub drain. Diaz came back and discovered her daughter drowned in the tub. When she pulled her out, she vomited. She then called boyfriend Fields for assistance, who attempted to revive the child with CPR which was a failure. The mother waited nearly 40 minutes before she called 911.