CINCINNATI (TCD) — A 23-year-old man has been charged this month after his girlfriend's 21-month-old son died following allegations of abuse and “violent influence.”
According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, paramedics responded to Aminata Keita's home on the morning of May 2 and noted an unresponsive 21-month-old child. Officials found Keita's son, identified by WXIX-TV as Kareem Keita, and transported him to the intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The boy died three days later.
After the infant's death, further investigation revealed that the victim had suffered a heart attack, fractures, fractured ribs with subdural hemorrhage, liver lacerations, retinal hemorrhage, and cerebral edema due to a cerebral hemorrhage.
Doctors at the hospital determined the boy suffered injuries “due to violent impact or blow with an object,” according to the prosecutor's office. His death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators identified Edward Murray as the primary suspect. It is known that Mr. A had been dating the victim's mother for about 3 months.
The night Kareem Keita died, Murray was reportedly playing alone outside his home with him. The attorney's office said Murray said Karim Keita was tired, so he put the child to bed without dinner. Murray reportedly was alone with the boy in the bedroom for “a few minutes before going back to smoke marijuana” with his girlfriend. There was no one watching him all night.
The next morning, Murray was reportedly alone with Karim Keita, but officials found him unresponsive. According to the attorney's office, Murray was unable to provide any other explanation for the victim's serious injuries.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announced May 20 that Murray was charged with one count of murder, a special felony, and one count of child endangerment. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Murray is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on $1 million bail.
Powers called the incident “heartbreaking and disgusting.” “I can’t imagine how much evil it would take to cause such serious harm to an innocent child,” she said. “It is truly shocking to think that someone capable of doing this is walking among us.”
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