Chattaroy woman suspected of murdering 5-year-old nephew

A Chattaroy woman accused of beating her 5-year-old nephew to death in April was arrested Thursday on a second-degree murder charge. Cynthia L. Khaleel called 911 on April 17 to report that her nephew, Gary Blanton III, had fallen out of bed and knocked himself unconscious while staying at her Chattaroy home. Khaleel, 28, was the only adult in the home when first responders arrived, court records say. Read previous coverage of the investigation Blanton died later at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center of brain injuries; doctors reported he also had a fractured skull and large bruises on his elbow, hip, leg, hip and arm, court records say. After a monthslong investigation, detectives determined that Blanton’s death was not accidental. Khaleel, who also uses the last name Rose, is being held in the Spokane County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in Superior Court this afternoon.