Left to right: Devorah Perez and Celso Edison Vicente Y Vicente (Canton Police Department).
Two people have been jailed in Georgia after police say a 2-year-old boy was fatally beaten, with investigators finding injuries across his body, including a mark that appeared to be a shoe print.
The Canton Police Department said Devorah Perez, 18, faces charges of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree cruelty to children, and three counts of reckless conduct. Her arrest followed the earlier arrest of 22-year-old Celso Edison Vicente Y Vicente, who has been charged with malice murder and first-degree cruelty to children.
According to police, officers were called around 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 3 to a residence in the 300 block of Cartersville Street in Canton, a city about 40 miles north of Atlanta.
The call involved an “unresponsive” 2-year-old boy. Officers rendered aid, and the child was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities identified Vicente as the “live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother.” He was arrested and charged shortly after the incident, while Perez was not charged until Thursday.
Warrants obtained by Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA state that Vicente was responsible for watching and caring for the toddler on the day he died. Investigators allege he struck the child and was “severely beating him with his hands and other unknown objects.”
The boy’s injuries reportedly included bruising over his entire body, one bruise resembling a shoe print, and a “fresh open laceration” on the top of his head.
“The death of a child is heartbreaking, and our detectives remain committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation,” said Canton Police Chief Marty Ferrell. “We appreciate the continued assistance of our law enforcement and criminal justice partners as we work to protect the integrity of this case and allow the judicial process to move forward.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
The post Mother and her boyfriend charged after 2-year-old beaten to death and found with bruise in the shape of a shoe print: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
