After months of investigation, the Westmoreland County district attorney announced on Wednesday that both parents of Azuree Charles have been charged in connection to the 9-year-old’s strangling death in New Kensington in May.
“It has rocked our office, the New Kensington Police Department, and our county as a whole,” said District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli during a press conference at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. “The trauma that has affected us all, however, pales in comparison to what Azuree no doubt experienced.”
Ms. Ziccarelli announced that Azuree’s mother, Luella Elien, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday and charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old, endangering the welfare of children, and hindering the apprehension or prosecution of another.
Ms. Ziccarelli declined to elaborate on the nature of Ms. Elien’s role in the child’s death, citing an ongoing investigation.
Earlier in September, Ms. Elien told local media that she just wanted “answers” from the investigation.
On May 4, New Kensington Police discovered Azuree’s body in a wooded area behind the family’s residence at a county housing authority complex along Haser Drive.
Ms. Ziccarelli also announced that the boy’s 40-year-old father, Jean Charles, was charged with murder in the first degree, criminal homicide, abuse of corpse, unlawful restraint of a minor by parent, strangulation, concealing the death of a child, and tampering with physical evidence.
Azuree’s cause of death was revealed to be by mechanical strangulation.
Mr. Charles had been arrested and brought to the Westmoreland County Jail the day after police discovered the child’s body; however, that arrest was made for previous, unrelated charges of simple assault and child endangerment filed in November of 2021.
Both adults are now in custody, the district attorney said.
“Now, we will proceed forward with prosecution to seek justice for Azuree,” Ms. Ziccarelli said, adding that legal action would be taken to “to the fullest extent of the law.”
First Published: September 21, 2022, 6:43 p.m.
