Nonprofit sets up fund for Fitchburg girl’s burial, brother’s care
FITCHBURG — A Boston nonprofit that assists abuse victims involved with the state Department of Children and Families has started a fund to pay for the burial of a horrifically beaten 6-year-old girl, whose parents are charged in connection with her death.
Police found Sophia Brito badly bruised and unresponsive April 10 in the family’s Stoneybrook Road home in Fitchburg with her seriously injured 9-yearold brother, Julian. She was later pronounced dead. DCF took custody of Julian.
Their parents, Shana Pedroso, 37, and Marvin Brito, 38, are being held on $250,000 cash bail each.
DCF spokeswoman Andrea Grossman said yesterday those wishing to donate to Sophia’s burial may do so with a check payable to Wonderfund at 600 Washington St., 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02111. Grossman said “burial costs for Sofia Brito” should be included on the memo line.
Donations can also be made online at wonderfund ma.org/get-involved/donate. Include “burial costs for Sofia Brito” in the donor note.
In addition, those wishing to contribute to the care of Julian can donate items at the Leominster DCF office at 690 Mechanic St., Suite 100, between 3 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Grossman said.
A dangerousness hearing yesterday in Fitchburg District Court revealed no new details about what happened to the children because attorneys for Pedroso and Brito agreed to have each of their clients held on a quarter-million dollars bail.
Attorney Michael Hussey, who represents Pedroso, and attorney Edward Fogarty, who represents Brito, declined comment at the courthouse.
Pedroso is facing two counts of assault and battery on a child, causing injury. Brito faces two counts of permitting substantial injury to a child.
The couple, who appeared together in court yesterday for the first time, are also charged with reckless endangerment of their children.
Julian initially told investigators that he and his sister were attacked by “bullies” while out for a walk without their parents. The boy also said his mother had closed a wound on his neck with “super glue.”
Police reports indicated Julian sustained “serious injuries and bruising to his face,” while Sophia had “extensive bruising of various ages over her entire body.”
The Herald reported last week, based on a Fitchburg police call log, that officers searched 2 1⁄2 hours for Pedroso on April 10, pinging her cellphone five times, after Brito — who also was not home with the children — called 911 to report he’d been told Sophia was not breathing.