Grandmother arrested, charged with murder of her 8-year-old granddaughter

Patricia Ann Ricks, 72, of Nashville, North Carolina, is charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.

Authorities are holding Ricks at the Nash County Detention Center under no bond. Her first court appearance is set for Thursday.

"Based on the investigation, it was determined that the 8-year-old juvenile was beaten so severe by the grandmother that she died from the injuries," a news release from the Nash County Sheriff's Office said. "The child had severe injuries throughout her entire body and head."

Arrest warrants show the girl died of severe blunt force trauma to her head and body.

The Nash County Sheriff's Office said Christal Lane died Tuesday afternoon before she got to the hospital. She was 8.

"It was determined that the 8-year-old [girl] was beaten so severely that she died as a result of her injuries," said Nash County Sheriff's Office Capt. Robert Bowen.

WRAL News asked Bowen if Ricks used any weapons in the attack on Lane.

"We have found some of those [weapons], but we're not currently going to release that at this time," Bowen said. "Some weapons or items were used as weapons at the residence."

On Wednesday, deputies found multiple items used as weapons in the deadly attack. They continue to pull evidence from the home on Dutchman Road near Canterbury Road.

The sheriff's office said Lane and her four siblings lived with Ricks, who was her legal guardian. The other siblings are currently in the custody of Nash County Social Services Department.

Deputies took Ricks to the sheriff's office, where she made no statement.

The sheriff's office said one of Ricks' grandchildren called 911 on Tuesday.

"Nash County communications received a call that a juvenile was being transported to the hospital by her grandmother," Bowen said.

The sheriff's office said weeks before Tuesday's arrest, Ricks was reported to the Nash County Department of Social Services for suspected child abuse.

"There was a referral to determine if there was abuse in the home," said Nash County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jeff Sherrod.

WRAL News asked Sherrod who filed the complaint. He said he didn't know.

Also, WRAL News reached out to the Nash County Department of Social Services to ask why action wasn't taken at the time of the complaint. The department did not immediately respond.

Detectives do not know the motive for the crime.