LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Fayette County Coroner’s Office reports that a 3-year-old Clinton County girl has died, days after police charged her uncle with slitting the child’s throat.
According to the coroner, Josephine Bulubenchi was critically injured in an attack by a family member Saturday morning. She died at UK Children’s Hospital shortly before 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
The coroner’s report lists the cause of death as homicide.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Emanuel Fluter just before 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the home where the attack reportedly happened on Beatty Creek Road.
According to an arrest citation, Fluter went into the toddler’s bedroom and slit her throat. The girl’s father, Fluter’s brother-in-law, rushed into the room “after hearing the screams on the baby monitor and tried to disarm Fluter,” the citation says.
Reportedly the brother-in-law was cut with the knife. The Clinton County sheriff said the man received a minor injury to one hand.
The arrest citation states that there were four other children in the room at the time the girl was attacked.
Neighbors tell LEX 18 that the family has 9 children and that they are a normal, loving family. They were shocked by what happened.
“They’re such a beautiful family, the kids, mom and the dad. They are very friendly. the kids are out in the yard playing a lot. It was just extremely heartbreaking I just can’t imagine someone being able to do that,” said one neighbor.
Fluter initially was charged with first-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment and bail was set at $500,000. Jail staff told LEX 18 on Sunday evening that he’s also now facing a murder charge.
On Saturday jail officials told LEX 18 there was no mugshot available for Fluter because he had been acting too violently for a picture to be taken.
A Gofundme fundraising account has been set to help the girl’s family.
