Girl, 12, wrote ‘I hate life…I am not loved’ then killed herself after mother put injured dog down
A child wrote ‘I hate life…I am not loved’ on her bedroom ceiling, then shot herself dead after her mother euthanized her injured dog. Anyiah Small, 12, killed herself on New Year’s Day at her home in Wyaconda, Missouri, Anyiah’s mother Annie, 39, has now been charged with child abuse over the suicide.
Anyiah also wrote ‘Pls help me plz plz help’ in her diary, and was distraught after her dog was injured in a fight hours before she took her own life. Small said she left her bar job to check on the pet, found it ‘severely injured,’ and then put it down to put it out of its misery.
Anyiah is said to have pleaded with her mother not to euthanize the animal, then shot herself with an unsecured firearm within 90 minutes. Small returned to work after shooting the dog, and texted her son to see if Anyiah was okay. When he told her the youngster was still distressed, she replied: ‘Dang.’
During a subsequent investigation, Small allegedly told investigators that her children had access to firearms at their home, but that she did not realize Anyiah had been able to get hold of the gun she ultimately killed herself with.
Small also told investigators that Anyiah had spoken of harming herself the day before her suicide. She said she had offered to take her daughter to a doctor, but that Anyiah had refused.
Small told investigators that she believed Anyiah would still be alive if she hadn’t shot her dog.
An obituary for Anyiah said: ‘Anyiah was her own person, and loved expressing it.
‘She was very outgoing, and would wear any shade of makeup that was put in front of her, even the bold blue eye shadow and bright red lipstick…
‘One of the most important parts of Anyiah’s life was her little sister. She was always looking out for her, and cared for her deeply.
Prosecutors say charging a parent in relation to a child’s suicide is unusual, but allege that Anyiah’s death would have been prevented, were it not for her mother’s actions.
Annie Small is being held in Clark County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bond.
For 24/7 confidential emotional support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 in the US
For the UK contact Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details