A Paulsboro mother and stepfather have been charged with murder in the death of a 9-year-old girl after an autopsy revealed severe blunt-force injuries and signs of long-term abuse. Prosecutors allege the pair attempted to mislead investigators by reporting that the child may have been hit by a vehicle.

India Miller, 27, and Sean D. Scott, 45, are facing multiple charges, including murder and child endangerment. The charges stem from an incident that took place Tuesday, when Miller and Scott called 911 at about 1:10 a.m. to report that a child was not breathing.

According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Scott told police the child had been walking the dog and may have been struck by a vehicle. Miller told officers she heard a loud sound “similar to tires screeching.” The pair claimed that Scott then went outside and found the child near a shed.

“The victim was transported to a local hospital where medical staff observed facial trauma, bruising over the entire body, and additional injuries not consistent with a vehicle crash,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from public buildings in the area and found no evidence of vehicle traffic during the timeframe described by the couple, prosecutors said.

During interviews, the victim’s 4-year-old sibling told police that their father had struck the girl in the face and eyes, according to officials.

Authorities also reported finding wet children’s clothing with suspected blood in an upstairs bathtub, along with suspected blood on surrounding tile, a Swiffer WetJet mop and other cleaning supplies inside the home.

The Prosecutor’s Office said the girl was pronounced dead at 6:42 p.m. that day.

An autopsy conducted by the medical examiner revealed that the child had numerous injuries, some in various stages of healing, suggesting ongoing abuse, prosecutors said. The examination documented blunt-force trauma to both eyes, including one eye swollen shut; abrasions to the inner thighs and genital area; multiple broken ribs in different stages of healing; and a ruptured colon also consistent with blunt-force trauma.

Medical examiners determined the cause of death was multiple blunt-force injuries and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Miller and Scott were each charged with murder, accomplice to murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, making a fictitious report to police and hindering prosecution. They were transported to Salem County Jail pending future court dates.