CONCORD, N.C. -- The family of a Union County toddler beaten so badly she suffered permanent brain damage, is pushing for tougher laws.
Tuesday, three-year-old Kilah Davenport's family, along with the Justice For All Coalition, announced their intention to create "Kilah's Law."
Kilah's stepfather, 22-year-old Joshua Houser, is charged with felony child abuse. He's been in jail since May on a one million dollar bond.
Under current laws, if convicted, he'll face about 44 to 92 months in prison.
If "Kilah's Law" becomes a reality, felony child abuse would carry a punishment of 25 years to life.
Kilah's grandmother, Leslie Davenport, said she just wants to help other families.
"With this law in place we can stop people from doing this to other children," she said. "They can be monitored when they're released from prison. And stiffer penalties have to be put in place because we don't want to see anyone else suffer like we have."
Davenport said that Kilah is doing much better--starting to stand up with assistance, and hold her head up and eat and breathe on her own--but that she still has a lot of rehab ahead.
