Oklahoma ME: Cartwright girl apparently strangled
Published: October 21, 2009
CARTWRIGHT — An 11-year-old Cartwright girl who was found dead early Sunday apparently was strangled, a preliminary examination shows.
Dakota Cheyenne Hughes was found dead at her aunt's home Sunday morning. A Sherman, Texas man, Jason Lee Belew, 34, has been charged in Bryan County with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
The probable cause of death was asphyxiation by strangulation, a state medical examiner's spokeswoman said this morning.
The apparent manner of death is homicide, the spokeswoman said.
The final autopsy report has not been completed, so authorities have not positively determined whether she was raped, the spokeswoman said.
Authorities in Bryan County said Hughes' nude body was found with injuries to her face, neck and genitalia. Belew, a friend of Dakota's aunt, was arrested Sunday at his home in Sherman. He was found with the aunt's cell phone and he was wearing bloody clothing, authorities said.
Belew is expected to be taken from Grayson County jail in Sherman to Bryan County jail by the end of the week.
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