Couple Accused of Beating 9-Year-Old Daughter to Death Before Claiming She Was Hit by a Car

A nine-year-old girl’s death has sparked a disturbing investigation in New Jersey after her mother and stepfather allegedly claimed she had been struck by a passing car. Investigators say the injuries found on the child raised serious doubts about that account, leading authorities to examine allegations of abuse inside the family home.

India Miller, 27, and her partner, Sean Scott, 45, are accused of killing Miller’s daughter, Maya Thomas. The little girl was found with severe injuries and extensive bruising, according to reports. Authorities are also investigating allegations that Maya may have suffered sexual abuse, adding another deeply troubling dimension to the case.

The incident unfolded in Paulsboro, New Jersey, in the early hours of October 13, 2026. Prosecutors say the couple called emergency services at around 1:10 a.m., claiming Maya had been hit by a vehicle while walking the family dog. Scott allegedly told investigators that the child had been struck by a passing car, while Miller reportedly said she had heard a screeching sound outside before Maya was discovered near a shed on the property.

However, when officers arrived, Maya was found unresponsive inside the family home. Her face showed serious injuries, and bruises reportedly covered much of her body. She was rushed to Cooper Hospital for emergency treatment, but despite medical efforts, she died later that day at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Investigators soon began questioning the couple’s explanation. According to reports, the injuries appeared inconsistent with the claim that Maya had been struck by a vehicle. Surveillance footage from nearby public buildings also reportedly failed to show a car passing through the area at the time described by the adults. As detectives continued their inquiries, evidence gathered inside the home became a central part of the investigation.

Court documents cited in reports state that Maya’s four-year-old sibling told detectives that Scott had struck the girl in her face and eyes. Investigators also allegedly found wet, bloodstained children’s clothing in a bathtub upstairs, along with suspected blood traces on bathroom tiles and cleaning equipment. Authorities are examining these findings as they work to establish what happened in the hours before Maya was taken to hospital.

The investigation has widened beyond the circumstances of the girl’s death. New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency is reportedly examining allegations of both physical and sexual abuse. Maya’s grandmother, Lynn Miller, has also made the disturbing claim that the child was homeschooled because the adults did not want others to see bruises on her body. That claim has not, by itself, established the reason for the schooling arrangement, and investigators continue to assess the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse.

Lynn said she had cared for Maya in Las Vegas from the time the girl was about 18 months old until she was seven. Maya later moved to New Jersey to live with her mother and stepfather. Her grandmother said contact with the child had been cut off around two years ago, leaving her with limited opportunities to speak with her granddaughter. Remembering Maya before the tragedy, she described her as a happy, carefree child.

Miller and Scott have both been charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect, filing a false police report and hindering prosecution. They remain in custody at Salem County Jail and are expected to appear before a judge as the legal proceedings continue. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.

Maya’s four-year-old sibling has been placed in the care of child-protection authorities while the investigation continues. For her family and community, the case has raised painful questions about what the little girl may have endured before her death—and whether warning signs could have been recognized sooner. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Maya’s final hours and the separate allegations of abuse.

Source: The Sun