Videos shown in court showed Mackenzi Felmlee's legs constricted as she lay at the bottom of the stairs, grunting for air while Shemeka Williams laughed.
The three children, two 7-year-old girls and a 5-year-old boy, were airlifted to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, a report from police said.
Lee Enterprises has yet to file a response to the lawsuits, and the director of communications for Lee said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
After losing her business and home on May 16, a north St. Louis banquet hall owner is finally getting help. A new SBA and FEMA Disaster Recovery Center just opened.
According to court documents, Brandon Johnson turned himself in to the St. Louis County Police Department and told them he killed his girlfriend the day prior.