A 22-year-old man in Tennessee was arrested on Monday, September 4, for the death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.
The child was allegedly beaten to death with a dog toy and a belt, leading to charges against Anthony D. Andrews for aggravated child abuse and aggravated neglect of a child.
Memphis police and emergency medical personnel responded to a 911 call at a home on Margot Street, about an unresponsive child.
When they arrived, they found the two-year-old boy not breathing and with severe injuries, including bruising on his abdomen, sides, back and face.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the toddler did not survive and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The child’s mother had last seen her son in good health the previous evening, leaving him in Andrews’ care while she slept.
She informed investigators that she was aware of Andrews’ disciplinary actions, including using a braided dog toy. She had noticed bruising and injuries on her child recently, but was told by Andrews that the injuries were from the child falling out of bed.
After being read his Miranda rights, Andrews admitted to hitting the child with a belt and using the braided dog toy. He also confessed to striking the child with an open hand and pushing him into a corner. Andrews claimed that after the beating, he put the child back in bed but later found him unresponsive and called 911.
Anthony Andrews is held at the Shelby County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.
He is scheduled to appear in court on September 7, 2023, before Judge William B. Anderson.