Caretaker, 18, charged with homicide of girl, 14

The caretaker of a 14-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair was charged Wednesday in her death.

Christopher Ward, 18, faces one count of second-degree reckless homicide in the death of Jada Wright.

Ward made his first court appearance Wednesday and remained in the Milwaukee County Jail on $15,000 bail.

An autopsy showed Jada had died of severe blunt force trauma. Her death was reported last Thursday — just days after the teen’s birthday — when officers were called to her home in the 9200 block of North 75th Street.

Jada’s parents are deceased. Ward’s mother become Jada’s legal guardian on Sept. 29, and Ward then became the teen’s “personal care worker,” according to the criminal complaint.

In an interview with detectives, Ward first claimed he tripped and fell, accidentally hitting Jada in the abdomen with his elbow. He later admitted to becoming frustrated with Jada when trying to feed her using a tube and punching her in the abdomen, the complaint says.

Ward said he connected the tube, left the room and returned to find Jada covered in green vomit, according to the complaint.

Ward said he knew something was wrong, but he “took no action to seek additional care” for her, nor did he tell the initial emergency responders about his actions, prosecutors wrote.

He will be back in court March 1 for a preliminary hearing.

Jada’s aunt, Kecia Ford, told WITI-TV (Channel 6) she had cared for the teen after Jada’s parents died but had to stop because of her own health challenges.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families is reviewing the teen’s death.