>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": MIDDLESEX COUNTY D.A.

MARIAN RYAN AND ACTIVIST MONICA CANNON GRANT JOIN ME ON THE DEATH OF A 16-YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL IN HOPKINTON, MIKAYLA MILLER, WHICH SOME ARE CALLING A LYNCHING, WHILE POLICE HAVE SAID THEY DON'T SUSPECT FOUL PLAY.

THEN, LATER, I'LL TALK TO SCIENCE JOURNALIST JEAN NE BLAKE AND DR. PAULA RAUCH, THE FOUNDER OF MASS GENERAL'S "PARENTING AT A CHALLENGING TIME" PROGRAM ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS THE PANDEMIC IS HAVING ON KIDS.

>>> AFTER 16-YEAR-OLD MIKAYLA MILLER WAS FOUND DEAD LAST MONTH HANGING FROM A TREE ALONG A TRAIL NEAR HER HOME IN HOPKINTON, ACCORDING TO WBZ, POLICE THERE SAID THEY DID NOT SUSPECT FOUL PLAY.

A CORONER'S REPORT HAS STILL NOT BEEN RELEASED AS OF THIS TAPING, BUT TODAY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARIAN RYAN SAID HER OFFICE WAS NOT READY TO COMMENT ON THE NATURE OF MIKAYLA'S DEATH.

BUT IN THE WEEKS SINCE HER BODY WAS FOUND, MIKAYLA'S FAMILY HAS PUSHED BACK, CALLING HER DEATH A MURDER AND ACCUSING AUTHORITIES OF TRYING TO COVER IT UP.

A Facebook POST ATTRIBUTED TO MIKAYLA'S MOTHER READS, IN PART: "MY DAUGHTER WAS JUMPED BY A GROUP OF KIDS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 17, AND WAS THEN MURDERED HOURS LATER IN HOPKINTON, TIED TO A TREE AND LEFT.

THE HOPKINTON POLICE DID NOT LOG EITHER THE INCIDENT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS AMBUSHED NOR WHEN SHE WAS FOUND DEAD."

TODAY D.A.

RYAN LAID OUT DETAILS OF THE ENCOUNTER HER MOTHER REFERRED TO, INCLUDING DIGITAL EVIDENCE SHE SAYS PROVES THAT NONE OF THE TEENS INVOLVED IN THE ALTERCATION BEFORE MIKAYLA'S DEATH WERE IN THE AREA WHEN SHE DIED.

THE D.A.

ALSO STRONGLY DISAGREED THAT POLICE OR HER OFFICE HAVE FAILED TO LOOK INTO THE CASE, WHICH SHE PLEDGED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLETELY AND TRANSPARENTLY.

BUT THE CASE HAS PROMPTED A LOT OF OUTRAGE FROM ACTIVISTS ONLINE, SOME OF WHOM ARE SAYING MIKAYLA, WHO WAS BLACK AND LGBTQ, WAS LYNCHED.

AND THIS THURSDAY SEVERAL PROMINENT LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUPS, INCLUDING "VIOLENCE IN BOSTON," ARE HOLDING A VIGIL TO HONOR MIKAYLA'S LIFE AND A RALLY TO DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT HER DEATH.

I'M JOINED BY D.A.

MARIAN RYAN AND "VIOLENCE IN BOSTON" FOUNDER AND C.E.O., MONICA CANNON GRANT.

>> Braude: MONICA, AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CAN I START WITH YOU?

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE MINUTES BEFORE WE WERE TAPING THIS DISCUSSION.

I GAVE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW.

CAN YOU FILL IN A FEW BLANKS?

WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT I DID NOT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, JIM, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE REACHED FINAL CONCLUSIONS IN THIS CASE.

THE TAKE-AWAY FROM THIS IS THAT WE -- THAT THAT IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY FALSE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONCLUSIONS REACHED IN THIS CASE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS: WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND THE MANNER OF MIKAYLA'S DEATH.

THAT IS A RULING MADE BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT.

WE ARE AWAITING THAT.

THE SECOND PIECE IS THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THAT WE HAVE HEARD CALLS FROM, ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR OFFICE IS EITHER IGNORING OR TRULY, EVEN WORSE, COVERING UP WHAT HAPPENED HERE BECAUSE MIKAYLA WAS BLACK OR BECAUSE SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAR THAT IS COMPLETELY FALSE.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY -- SORRY, GO AHEAD.

>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU JUST SHOWED.

WE DO KNOW THERE WAS A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 17th, IN A CLUBHOUSE, OR THE COMMON AREA, OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE MIKAYLA LIVED WITH HER MOTHER.

WE KNOW THAT MIKAYLA WAS IN THAT CLUBHOUSE.

SHE WAS INITIALLY WITH TWO FRIENDS, TWO FRIENDS LEFT, AND SHE WAS JOINED BY FOUR OTHER TEENAGERS.

THERE WAS A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION THAT TOOK PLACE.

WHEN THE PHYSICAL ALTERCATION HAD ENDED, THE FIVE OF THEM STAYED IN THAT ROOM FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO.

THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT HAD COME TO THE COMPLEX GOT IN A CAR WITH ANOTHER TEENAGER AND LEFT.

MIKAYLA WENT BACK TO HER HOME.

MIKAYLA'S MOTHER CALLED AT 7:20, THE HOPKINTON POLICE, AND REPORTED THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD BEEN,, AS YOU INDICATED, HAD BEEN JUMPED.

THE POLICE RESPONDED.

THEY TOOK A STATEMENT FROM MIKAYLA, DOCUMENTED THAT IN THE REPORT, DOCUMENTED THAT THEY SAW A BIT OF BLOOD ON HER LIP, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT SHE HAD TOLD THEM.

SHE TOLD THEM THEY HAD BEEN SHOVED AND SHE HAD BEEN PUNCHED.

THEY THEN CONTINUEDED THAT CONTINUED THAT INVESTIGATION, TRAVELING TO THE HOME OF ONE OF THE FEMALES KNOWN TO MIKAYLA WHO HAD BEEN THERE.

THEY FOUND TWO FEMALES WHO HAD BEEN IN THE CLUBHOUSE, TALKED TO THEM, TOOK STATEMENTS, AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE CLUBHOUSE TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS OF SOME DAMAGE THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MIKAYLA HAD TOLD THEM.

>> Braude: LET ME STOP YOU THERE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, FOR A SECOND.

WAS A CRIME COMMITTED THAT NIGHT OR NO?

>> WELL, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE WAS A PHYSICAL ASSAULT, THAT MIKAYLA DESCRIBED.

>> Braude: WAS IT A CRIME?

>> ASSUMING WE WERE IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE COULD STILL BE TALKING TO MIKAYLA ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, YES, I WOULD EXPECT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE.

>> Braude: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

MEANING BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW, ARE THESE OTHER PEOPLE GOING TO BE CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, BATTERY, SOME CRIME BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT CLUBHOUSE?

>> AS YOU KNOW, JIM, OBVIOUSLY WE ALWAYS HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE.

WITH RESPECT TO CLEARLY MIKAYLA REPORTED TO THE POLICE THAT SHE HAD BEEN PUNCHED AND SHOVED.

TRAGICALLY, MIKAYLA HAS PASSED AWAY.

>> Braude: I UNDERSTAND, BUT ONE MORE TIME, QUICKLY IF I CAN, AND MONICA, I'LL GET YOU IN IN A MINUTE, BUT BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW, I KNOW MIKAYLA IS NOT HERE, WAS A CRIME COMMITTED AT THAT SCENE?

>> BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, YES.

>> Braude: NUMBER TWO, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IF I COULD QUICKLY, WHAT WAS THE RACE OF THOSE WHO ASSAULTED MIKAYLA?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, SOME WERE WHITE AND SOME WERE LATINX.

>> Braude: MONICA, YOU HAVE ASSERTED IN POSTINGS THAT MIKAYLA WAS MURDERED.

THAT WAS YOUR WORD.

WHAT WAS THAT BASED UPON, MONICA?

>> WELL, JIM, LET'S FIRST START WITH THE NARRATIVES THAT D.A.

RYAN JUST CREATED.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MIKAYLA WAS -- MIKAYLA LEFT THIS LIFE APRIL 17th.

FOR 12 DAYS THE FAMILY DID NOT HEAR FROM D.A.

RYAN.

AND IN REGARDS TO THE INFORMATION THAT SHE JUST GAVE YOU, WE GOT THAT INFORMATION A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO, PRIOR TO THIS INTERVIEW.

UP UNTIL THAT POINT, THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM D.A.

RYAN, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON FOR THE FRUSTRATION -- >> IF I MIGHT JUST STOP YOU FOR ONE MOMENT -- >> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MONICA DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU.

I'M SORRY.

HOLD IT A SECOND.

[Simultaneous talking] >> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MONICA DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU.

AS SOON AS SHE IS DONE, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY FREE TO RESPOND.

MONICA, CONTINUE IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU.

THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THIS CASE WITH THE FAMILY, THE LACK OF INFORMATIN BEING GIVEN TO THE MOTHER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

>> Braude: OKAY.

BUT I WANT TO GET TO YOUR ASSERTION -- >> YES, I'M GETTING TO IT IT, JIM.

WITH REGARD TO IT BEING A MURDER IS BECAUSE THE SAME DAY THESE INDIVIDUALS JUMPED MIKAYLA AROUND 7:00 IN THE EVENING, AFTER HER MOM HAD CALLED AND REPORTED THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, A FEW HOURS LATER, MIKAYLA LEAVES THE HOUSE, HER LOCATION WAS SHARED VIA HER SNAPCHAT WITH THESE SAME INDIVIDUALS, AND SHE ENDS UP DEAD.

NOW, THE FRUSTRATION IS THIS: IF MIKAYLA WAS A WHITE CHILD AND THIS WAS FIVE BLACK CHILDREN WHO ENGAGED IN THIS ACTIVITY, NOT ONLY WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH AN ASSAULT, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THEIR FACES ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, THE MEDIA, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

THERE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

SERGEANT SEAN O'BRIEN HAS BEEN USING BULLYING TACTICS WITH THE NEIGHBOR.

>> Braude: MONICA -- MONICA, THERE ARE SO MANY ALLEGATIONS, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN A SECOND.

IF I CAN GO DOWN THIS LIST BACKWARDS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IF I MAY.

HAVE YOU RULED OUT MURDER AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF DEATH WITH MIKAYLA?

>> WE HAVE NOT REACHED A FINAL CONCLUSION HERE.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.

I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> Braude: AND HOW ABOUT THE ISSUE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAMILY?

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO.

BEGINNING, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON THAT SUNDAY, OR PERHAPS MONDAY, VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES FROM MY OFFICE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MIKAYLA'S MOM, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH MIKAYLA'S MOM.

MIKAYLA'S MOM HAS A REPRESENTATIVE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ON A CONSTANT, ALMOST DAILY BASIS.

>> Braude: STARTING WHEN?

>> I HAVE TALKED TO THAT REPRESENTATIVE AT LEAST OR THREE TIMES EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.

>> Braude: WHEN WAS THE FIRST COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAMILY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY?

WHEN WAS THE FIRST COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAMILY?

>> I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER MONDAY -- THAT MONDAY, THE HOLIDAY -- SO THAT WOULD BE THE -- THE POLICE OBVIOUSLY WERE THERE ON THE 18th.

>> Braude: WHAT DATE?

>> THE 18th.

I BELIEVE THE FIRST CONTACT FROM THE ADVOCATE WAS THE 19th.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IT SEEMS TO ME, AS A NON-PROFESSIONAL HERE, MEANING ME, IT HAS TAKEN A HELL OF A LONG TIME TO GET THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT HERE.

WHY SO LONG, IF I'M RIGHT?

>> JIM, YOU KNOW THAT IN EVERY CASE WE WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

THEY'RE DOING THEIR TESTING, THE LAB RESULTS, ALL OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING -- THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE TWO AND A HALF WEEKS OUT AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET.

THERE IS JUST -- I UNDERSTAND.

IF THIS WERE MY CHILD, I WOULD GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR THE ANSWER, AND I WOULD HAVE WANTED THE ANSWER AT THE MOMENT THE POLICE CAME TO MY DOOR.

>> SO YOU MADE THIS STATEMENT THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE COMMITTED A CRIME, WHY HAVEN'T THEY BE CHARGED?

WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE?

>> BECAUSE IN EVERY CASE, THE FACT THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EVALUATION AS TO DO WE HAVE EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD?

>> BUT YOU JUST SAID A CRIME WAS COMMITTED WHEN THEY ASSAULTED HER, THEY JUMPED HER, AND YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU INTERVIEWED TWO OUT OF THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU DESCRIBED AND SHE WAS JUMPED.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT GOT IN THEIR CAR?

HAVE THEY BEEN INTERVIEWED?

WHO ARE THEY?

>> ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

>> AND STILL NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN MADE?

>> Braude: IF I MAY, MONICA -- I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE QUESTION MONICA AND I BOTH ASKED.

IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, PUTLY ASIDE TEMPORARILY THE CAUSE OF DEATH, WAS SHE MURDERED, WAS THERE SOME BEHAVIOR THAT LED TO HER DEATH OTHER THAN AN ACT BY HERSELF, WHY HAVEN'T THOSE KIDS BEEN CHARGED?

YOU DID SAY YOU BELIEVED A CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED THERE.

WHY HASN'T THAT CRIME BEEN ATTENDED TO?

>> JIM, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CHARGE SOMEBODY, WE HAVE TO HAVE EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE.

WE NEED A WITNESS WHO COULD TESTIFY TO WHAT HAPPENED.

WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME KIND OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM MIKAYLA AS TO WHAT HAPPENED IS NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD.

>> SO A VICTIM'S STATEMENT SAYING I WAS BEAT, AND YOU BELIEVING THERE WAS A CRIME, IS NOT ENOUGH TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST INDIVIDUALS YOU ACKNOWLEDGE COMMITTED A CRIME?

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CASE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND INDICATES THAT SOMETHING IS BEING HIDDEN OR COVERED UP.

FOR THOSE REASONS, WE'RE DEMANDING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND IT BE TAKEN OUT OF RYAN'S OFFICE.

BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL WE'LL GET ALL OF THE ANSWERS NECESSARY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO MIKAYLA MILLER.

>> Braude: I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING THAT MONICA SAID A MINUTE AGO.

SERGEANT SEAN O'BRIEN WARNED ME NOT TO GO TO THE MEDIA, OR ELSE MY DAUGHTER'S, QUOTE, "SEXUALITY WILL BE EXPROAFD.

WELL, I DID AND THEY WILL NOT COVER UP THEIR MURDER.

PLEASE ATTEND" -- MEANING THE CONFERENCE.

WHAT IS YOUR SPONSE?

>> I HAVE HEARD THAT AND SEEN THAT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING INTO, AS TO WHAT THAT CONVERSATION WAS.

I WANT TO GO BACK IF I CAN, JIM, JUST FOR ONE SECOND.

BECAUSE TO LEAVE THE IDEA THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COULD GO FORWARD THAT ISN'T GOING FORWARD IS JUST WRONG.

CLEARLY PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE POLICE AND GIVE THE POLICE A POLICE REPORT.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE A PHYSICAL WITNESS WHO COMES INTO COURT TO TESTIFY.

>> YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BLOOD WAS ON MIKAYLA -- >> Braude: MONICA, ONE SECOND.

I'LL LET YOU RESPOND IN A SECOND.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY, FINISH, PLEASE.

>> ONE POSSIBILITY WOULD BE IF WE COULD FIND SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WITNESSED THAT, IF WE COULD FIND ADVICE SURVEILLANCE THAT WOULD SHOW THAT.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THAT.

THERE ARE NO CONCLUSIONS HERE.

WE WANT WHAT -- WHAT MIKAYLA DESERVES HERE AND WHAT HER FAMILY DESERVES IS A FULL INVESTIGATION THAT GETS US TO THE RIGHT ANSWER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND TELLS US WHAT ENDED HER VERY PROMISING LIFE.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THAT -- >> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IF I MAY, BOTH WBZ AND THE MOTHER OF MIKAYLA HAVE ASSERTED THAT UPON FINDING HER DEAD, SHE WAS TIED TO A TREE.

IS THAT TRUE?

WHAT WERE THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> THAT PIECE OF THE INVESTIGATION, AS TO THE CAUSE, MANNER OF DEATH, ANY INJURIES, THAT IS SOMETHING WE AWAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

>> Braude: RESPECTFULLY, SHE WAS TIED TO A TREE OR SHE WAS NOT TIED TO A TREE.

>> WE'RE NOT COMMENTING ON THAT.

>> Braude: MONICA, YOU SAID YOU WANT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.

SHORT OF THAT, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DO, MONICA?

>> I WANT HER TO STEP DOWN AND LET THE F.B.I.

HANDLE THIS CASE.

I FEEL LIKE HER OFFICE HAD MISHANDLED THIS CASE, TO INDICATE THAT BLOOD WAS ON HER, A REPORT WAS TAKEN, SHE STATED SHE WAS JUMPED.

THEY TALKED TO INDIVIDUALS AND LOOKED AT THE CAMERA.

IF I WAS JUMPED BY FOUR PEOPLE, AND A FEW OF THOSE PEOPLE WHICH THE D.A.

DID NOT MENTION ARE MALES -- THERE WERE MALES AND FEMALES -- AND I HAD BLOOD ON ME AND MADE A REPORT, THERE WOULD BE AN ARREST.

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ARREST.

SHE ACKNOWLEDGED A CRIME WAS COMMITTED.

STILL NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

IT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED, THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE ARRESTED.

THE OTHER THING IS THIS, JIM: MIKAYLA WAS TIED TO A TREE, AND THERE WAS A BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK.

SHE HAD A BLACK SWEAT SUIT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A BELT.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CASE SHOWS THAT SOMETHING IS BEING HIDDEN.

FOR THOSE REASONS, WE WANT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE F.B.I.

AND WE WANT TO DO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TWO FINAL THINGS: IS WHAT MONICA JUST ASSERTED TRUE ABOUT WHAT MIKAYLA WAS DRESSED IN AND THE BELT AROUND HER NECK?

>> JIM, WE'RE NOT COMMENTING AT THIS POINT.

I MADE TWO PLEDGES, AND THIS IS WHAT MIKAYLA DESERVES AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE DO A THOROUGH AND UNBIAS INVESTIGATION.

WHEN WE HAVE FINISHED THAT, YOU HAVE MY PLEDGE WE WILL RELEASE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RELEASE.

WE WILL PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE -- >> THAT IS NOT SAYING -- [Simultaneous talking] >> Braude: MONICA, LET HER FINISH, PLEASE.

>> YOU'RE CONTRADICTING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CONTINUE, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.

>> WE WILL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO TWO THINGS: THEY'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE YOU DO A COMPLETE AND UNBIAS AND A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION; AND THEY ARE ENTITLED TO SEE THE FRUIT OF THAT WORK, WHICH IS WHY WE RELEASED SOME PIECES TODAY, SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT TAES PLACE.

IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO SAY WE NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING NOW OR WHY ISN'T THIS DONE?

THE QUESTION IS, AND WHAT WE ALL THO WANT IS TO GET TO THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO GET THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT?

WHAT HAS HE OR SHE SAID TO YOU IN TERMS OF TIMETABLE?

>> WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET A SPECIFIC TIMELINE, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> Braude: DISTRICT ATTORNEY RYAN AND MONICA CANNON GRANT, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU BOTH.

WE'LL STAY TUNED TO THIS STORY.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: ON Facebook, MIKAYLA WAS DESCRIBED AS AN ATHLETE, WHO LOVED BASKETBALL, AND HONOR STUDENT, WHO WANTED TO STUDY JOURNAL AT SPELMAN COLLEGE IN ATLANTA OR HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BOTH HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITIES.

THE CASE AGAINST SEAN ELLIS WILL SOON BE OVER.

TODAY A JUDGE TOSSED OUT TWO REMAINING WEAPONS CONVICTIONS AGAINST HIM RELATED TO THE 1993 MURDER OF POLICE DETECTIVE JOHN MULLIGAN, WHICH ELLIS HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

FOR THOSE FEW WHO DON'T I HAD TONS, LIKE PILES AND PILES OF WORK.

I WAS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ME SIX DAYS.

>> EVERY MONTH IN 2020 SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

LIKE THE PROTESTS AND EVERYTHING.

IT LEAVES YOU FEELING SUPER OVERWHELMED AND YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FRIENDS TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: THAT IS THE TOPIC OF A SERIES CALLED "THE PANDEMIC AND KIDS MENTAL HEALTH."

I'M JOINED BY THE PRESIDENT OF BLAKE WORKS, THE COMMUNICATION CONSULTING FIRM, AND DR. PAULA RAUCH, A PSYCHIATRIST AT MASS GENERAL FOR KIDS, AND THE DIRECTOR OF M.G.H.

'S "PARENTING IN A CHALLENGING TIME."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: JEANNE, WE KNOW IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR KIDS.

DO WE KNOW HOW TOUGH, OR DO WE JUST HAVE ANECDOTAL BAD NEWS?

>> THAT IS PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION FOR DR. RAUCH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN THE INTERVIEWS I CONDUCTED WITH THESE KIDS, I HEARD A SITUATION OF LOSS, ISOLATION, DESPAIR.

AND I'VE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN, AND THEY SAY GETTING BACK IN SCHOOL IS HELPFUL, BUT THEY KNOW THERE IS A TALE TO THIS PANDEMIC.

AND THEY DON'T EXPECT TO FLIP A SWITCH AND HAVE IT BE OVER.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, MOST PEOPLE WITH WHOM I'VE SPOKEN HAVE BELIEVED THEY CAN FLIP A SWITCH.

THAT KIDS HAVE WANTED TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND THE FACT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WILL NOT QUITE CAUSE THE HISTORICAL PAIN TO DISAPPEAR, BUT MITIGATE IT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT AWAY.

YOU DON'T BUY THAT, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THAT SIMPLE, CORRECT?

>> Doctor: NO.

IT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE HOSPITAL AND OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS.

IT IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM SUCH AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE.

IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME.

THERE WILL BE SOME KIDS WHERE RETURNING TO SCHOOL WILL BE A GREAT RELIEF, BUT THERE ARE OTHER CHILDREN WHO WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BE BACK IN THE FRAY.

AND TRANSITIONS ARE ALWAYS HARD.

>> Braude: JEANNE, YOU DO THESE THREE VIDEOS, ONE FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS, ONE FOR PRE-TEENS, AND ONE FOR TEENS.

LET'S START WITH THE YOUNGEST KIDS FOR A SECOND.

IS THERE A COMMON THREAD THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT TODDLERS, LITTLE, TINY KIDS ARE ENCOUNTERING THROUGHOUT THIS?

>> WELL, WE PRODUCE THESE FOR THE PARENTS AND ALL OF THE CARING ADULTS IN KIDS' LIVES.

ONE THING I'VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY IS THAT PARENTS ARE REALLY SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH REALLY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE PICKING UP IN THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THEM, WHETHER THE TELEVISION IS ON, THEY'RE OVERHEARING MESSAGES OR CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS, AND JUST THE TONE OF PARENTS' VOICES.

THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS REALLY OFF.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU -- THERE IS A LOT OF CANDOR IN THESE VIDEOS.

HERE IS KARIAL.

>> HE WAS NOT GETTING ANY SLEEP.

AND I WASN'T ALL THAT PATIENT.

I WASN'T ALL THAT KIND.

I WASN'T ALL THAT LOVING.

THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN I JUST HAD TO SIT WITH MYSELF AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS NOT WORKING.

SO MY HUSBAND AND I, WE HAD TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I JUST WAS VERY CANDID WITH HIM.

I'M REALLY STRESSED OUT WITH SOME OF THE NORMAL EXPECTATIONS THAT A WIFE AND A MOTHER WOULD HAVE OUTSIDE OF A PANDEMIC.

AND TO HAVE A PARTNER AND A SUPPORT TEAM THAT BELIEVES THE SAME THING HAS BEEN TRULY HELPFUL.

>> Braude: AND, DOCTOR, I'M ASSUMING WHAT ARIELLE HAD TO SAY IS NOT ATYPICAL, CORRECT?

>> Doctor: NO.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY TYPICAL.

THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR EVERY FAMILY.

AND INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES HAVE DIFFERENT SET OF STRESSORS.

IT HAS BEEN HARD FOR EVERYONE.

>> Braude: PRE-TEENS, I KNOW IT IS HARD TO GENERALIZE, BUT ARE THERE COMMON THEMES YOU HAVE WITH KIDS IN THAT AGE GROUP?

>> Doctor: YEAH.

I THINK KIDS RELY ON THEIR FRIENDS FOR ALL KINDS OF LEARNING AND SUPPORT.

SO ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ARE REALLY MISSING THE ACTIVITIES, THE IN-PERSON ONES, IN PARTICULAR, THAT MAY NOT BE AS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND AS THEY ARE DEALING WITH ONLINE LEARNING, THE GLITCHES YOU WOULD HEAR FROM ONE OF THE CHILDREN IN ONE OF THE VIDEOS, THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES FOR THE ONLINE CONNECTIONS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, JEANNE, ARE THE SCHOOLS READY FOR THIS?

TEACHERS HAVE HAD TO BE, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD TO BE -- THEY HAVE TO BE SHRINKS -- I HOPE THAT TERM DOES NOT OFFEND YOU, DOCTOR, THEY HAVE TO BE SHINSHRINKS AND ENTERTAINERS -- >> I THINK THAT IS REALLY STRESSING EVERYONE.

OUR MATERIALS ARE BEING USED IN SCHOOLS AND BEING USED IN CORPORATIONS.

AND BOTH ARE HOLDING WHAT IS CALLED THESE WATCH PARTIES.

DENHAMCOUNTRY DAY ARE HOLDING THESE WATCH PARTIES, AND TEACHERS ARE SAYING I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ONLY ONE.

WE ARE HEARING THAT CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT PASSED A MOTION TO USE THIS IN THE SCHOOLS THERE BECAUSE COUNCILOR PATRICK KEITH HEARD FROM A PARENT THAT THEIR CHILD IS HAVING A REALLY SIGNIFICANT TIME AROUND THE EMOTIONAL STUFF OF COVID.

WE KNOW REVERE HAS BEEN HIT HARD.

THE SCHOOL IS DOING AS MUCH AS IT CAN, BUT THE MAYOR OF REVERE, BRIAN, SAID WE JUST HAVE TO STOP AND MEASURE THE IMPACT BECAUSE IT IS GREAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES IN THE MONTHS AND THE WEEKS AND THE YEARS TO COME.

>> Braude: YEARS TO COME.

DOCTOR, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, BUT I'M ASSUMING, BASED UPON WHO HAS TAKEN THE BRUNT OF THE PAIN DURING THIS YEAR, THAT KIDS OF COLOR ARE GOING TO HAVE A PARTICULAR HARD TIME.

THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMIC IM IMPACTS, JUST GO DOWN THE LIST, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE HIT THOSE COMMUNITIES FAR HARDER.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND DIFFERENT FIXES, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, THAT APPLY TO KIDS OF COLOR?

>> Doctor: I THINK EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD NEEDS OF SUPPORT OF THEIR COMMUNITY, NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR PARENTS.

IT IS TRUE THAT THE MORE LAYERED ON STRESSORS ARE, THE MORE OF A CHALLENGE THAT IS FOR CHILDREN.

HOW CHILDREN DO ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW THEIR PARENTS ARE DOING.

AND IN MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THE CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS ARE BEARING AN UNEQUAL AMOUNT OF STRESS.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, I ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT, IS IT AT ALL HELPFUL IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, FOR THESE KIDS, THAT MOST OF THEIR FRIENDS ARE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING SIMILAR?

IT IS NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME, BUT VIRTUALLY EVERYONE AROUND THEM.

DOES THAT HELP, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION?

>> IT HELPS IF YOU CAN FACILITATE THE COMMUNICATION, SO WE HEAR FROM EACH OTHER AND BUILD THOSE CONNECTIONS.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT HELPFUL TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THE STRESSOR.

>> Braude: DOCTOR AND JENNE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WORK.

AND WE'LL TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN GET THE VIDEOS IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JEANNE'S WORK, HEAD TO BLACKWORKS.COM.

COME BACK TOMORROW, ACTING MAYOR OF BOSTON, KIM JANEY, JOINS ME ON POLICE REFORM, SUPPORTERS ASKING THE OTHER BLACK WOMAN IN THE RACE TO DROP OUT.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

PLEASE STAY SAFE.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org