SPARTANBURG, S.C. — (WSPA/CBS) -- A South Carolina man accused of leading troopers on a chase, then leaving his daughter inside a burning car, faces new criminal charges, WSPA reports.
Imhotep Norman, also known as O'Sha Norman, of Spartanburg is charged with homicide by child abuse, and failure to stop for blue lights and siren resulting in death.
Norman, 26, also faces three new counts of posession with intent to distribute drugs.
Norman's family says they stand behind him as they grieve the loss of Xena.
To Xena's family, the 1-year-old was a shining light.
Her grandmother Christian Palmer helped care for her every day.
"She was a lovely baby, you couldn't do nothing but love her, nothing but love," said Palmer.
Friday night, Xena's life ended when the car she was in caught fire.
"I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't imagine. It just hurt me, broke my heart. My heart is broken in so many pieces," Palmer said.
Troopers say they were pursuing her father for speeding on I-85 in Greenville County, and they say Norman eventually escaped out of the car after it caught fire, leaving Xena inside.
"I just know that the car wasn't on fire when I got out of the car. I would have stayed in the car with my daughter. I would never have got out the car while the car was on fire," Norman told a judge at his bond hearing on Friday night.
The family of Xena's mother, Thaisa Young, joined together Monday in solidarity behind Xena's dad.
"We believe him, we 100% both sides of the family believe what he's saying, if he would have knew, he would not have got out of the car," said Xena's great aunt Renalla Clowney.
When the incident happened Friday, investigators say Norman threw a bag of marijuana, meth, and amphetamines out of the car while they were in pursuit.
Despite his charges, the family is asking for prayers.
"Just keep our family in prayer, that's all, just always keep us lifted up for our family that's all we need is prayer, prayer," said Palmer.
They've set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for the funeral costs, and are grateful to the people who have supported them so far.
