Professional boxer charged with murder after 2-year-old dies from abuse in Mesa, Arizona
Kishawn Porter, 23, faces first-degree murder after police say he beat his girlfriend's toddler to death. A 1-year-old was also allegedly abused.
Mesa boxer charged with murder over fatal beating of toddler
A 23-year-old professional boxer has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge after police in Mesa, Arizona, say he beat and killed his girlfriend's 2-year-old son and abused his own 1-year-old child, kwqc.com reports.
The case began on Tuesday when paramedics responded to an apartment after a toddler was found in medical distress. The child was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries. Doctors observed suspicious bruising across the boy's body and alerted police, prompting a homicide investigation.
Investigators identified Kishawn Porter as the suspect. Authorities noted that bruising on his knuckles was inconsistent with training or competition. "Mr. Porter hit and punched the 2-year-old victim multiple times with either his hands and/or a sandal," a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office told the court at Porter's initial appearance.
An autopsy carried out on Wednesday by the Maricopa County medical examiner found catastrophic internal trauma, including healing and acute rib fractures, a lacerated liver, a lacerated stomach, and blood pooling in the abdomen. Court records stated: "It takes a substantial amount of force to lacerate the stomach, and the injuries were all consistent with child abuse. Based on the injuries, no one could have survived the severity."
The presence of healing rib fractures indicated the violence was not an isolated incident. Dr. Roy Lubit, a forensic psychiatrist specialising in child abuse cases, said: "That means this wasn't the only attack. The idea of beating and killing an infant indicates an almost basic lack of humanity. An individual who would do the acts that are alleged would almost be overwhelmingly likely to be a psychopath."
Prosecutors also outlined a violent juvenile history at Porter's court appearance, telling the judge he has prior adjudications for child molestation and aggravated assault involving a restrained victim.
Detectives further allege that Porter abused his own 1-year-old child by spanking him, striking him in the mouth, and slapping his torso and rib cage. Formal charges relating to the 1-year-old have not yet been submitted to prosecutors.
Following Porter's arrest, two combat sports promotions announced they had severed ties with him. A judge set his bond at $1.5 million.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)