NATCHEZ — The aunt of a 23-month-old girl on life support after allegedly suffering repeated abuse at the hands of her mother has been charged for failing to report the abuse to authorities.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said Tira L. Davis, 22, 601 Old Washington Road, Apt. 7-B, was charged Tuesday with contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child, a felony.

Davis is the sister of Shalae M. Lewis, 32, who was charged last week with felony child abuse after an investigation led to Lewis reportedly confessing to repeatedly abusing her daughter.

The child, Ford said, is still on life support at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital and suffered severe head trauma, including a cracked skull and a brain hemorrhage, after reportedly being thrown or pushed down a flight of stairs by her mother.

Lewis had previously told DHS representatives that the child fell down the stairs while Lewis was taking out trash.

Ford said Davis had knowledge of the abuse of the child and did not report it.

The Department of Human Services contacted Natchez police after medical staff reported suspected child abuse after the child was airlifted to Jackson for treatment.

Medical staff found that the child had cracked ribs that were healing, liver damage and burns on her body, Ford has said.

Relatives told police they reported the ongoing abuse to DHS. Ford said NPD investigated an alleged DHS report and found that no abuse of the child had been reported to DHS in Mississippi or Louisiana, where Lewis previously lived.

Lewis reportedly told investigators that she abused the child after the child’s father ended a romantic relationship with Lewis, because the child reminded Lewis of him, Ford has said.

NPD is continuing to monitor the child’s condition with medical staff, Ford said.

Davis is being held in the Natchez City Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Lewis is being held in the Natchez City Jail on a $1 million bond.