Missouri teen recovering after part of skull removed due to brutal beating

Missouri teen Kaylee Gain is still missing a portion of her skull, but taking large steps in recovery, after she took a brutal beating in Missouri from classmate Maurnice DeClue.  

The 16-year-old Hazelwood East High School student is finally back home, after being in critical condition and then in recovery for months at the hospital. Gain is looking at a "long road ahead," according to an update from the family's lawyer, per First Alert 4.  

Gain, although in stable condition, struggles with short term memory loss and will have to undergo cognitive and neuropsychological testing this summer to determine the extent of the damage.  

"While hospitalized, Kaylee underwent a craniectomy, which is a neurosurgical procedure that involved removing a portion of Kaylee’s skull in order to relieve the pressure on her brain,” attorney Bryan M. Kaemmerer wrote for the family’s update.  

“The portion of Kaylee’s skull that was removed still has not been put back in place. Ever since Kaylee underwent this procedure it has been necessary for her to wear a custom helmet in order to protect her brain in the event of a fall. Kaylee is scheduled to undergo an additional surgery to reattach this portion of her skull which will require yet another hospitalization,” he added.  

The suspect in the beating, 15-year-old DeClue, is scheduled to have a certification hearing in a St. Louis County courtroom on Friday. Gain will not be in attendance; however, her mother, father, stepmother, and attorney will be at the hearing. 

"The family is confident in the legal system, and trusts that the Judge will make an appropriate decision based on all of the facts and evidence in the case,” Kaemmerer wrote. “The family will respect the court’s ruling, regardless of the outcome.” 

The decision in the case may not be immediate on Friday and may take several days to be determined.