Police: Father beat toddler to death when she wouldn't eat
TACOMA, Wash. -- A father, frustrated that his toddler daughter wouldn't eat, has been arrested for allegedly abusing her to death, police said Thursday morning.
Medics were called to the home in the 1200 block of N. Pearl St. at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday and found the 2-year-old girl had been severely injured, said Gretchen Aguirre with Tacoma Police. The girl was rushed to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma, where she died Thursday morning.
Police said the father later confessed of the abuse to detectives.
"He actually shook her and struck her," Aguirre said. "He was frustrated for a number of reasons... but I think what really started it, at least in this particular instance, was a feeding issue."
The father is currently being held for investigation of assault, but Aguirre said those charges will likely be upgraded as a result of the toddler's death. An autopsy was planned.
Medics were called to the home in the 1200 block of N. Pearl St. at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday and found the 2-year-old girl had been severely injured, said Gretchen Aguirre with Tacoma Police. The girl was rushed to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma, where she died Thursday morning.
Police said the father later confessed of the abuse to detectives.
"He actually shook her and struck her," Aguirre said. "He was frustrated for a number of reasons... but I think what really started it, at least in this particular instance, was a feeding issue."
The father is currently being held for investigation of assault, but Aguirre said those charges will likely be upgraded as a result of the toddler's death. An autopsy was planned.