Authorities released the name of a toddler who passed away after an 11-year-old Maryland girl is accused of assaulting him while babysitting, NBC Washington reports.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the girl’s mother was babysitting the victim, Paxton Davis, but left the home to run an errand and left the 1-year-old boy alone with her daughter.
An adult later returned home and called 911.
Davis reportedly suffered significant injuries to his upper body and was hospitalized at Children’s National, but he was taken off life support on Thursday.
“I got in the room for a second by myself,” Paxton’s mother told the television station. “I talked to him and I said, ‘Baby, you don’t have to fight no more. You don’t have to fight for mommy no more. I’m at peace. I know you wasn’t here forever. God gave you to me to borrow. It would be selfish to leave you on life support.’”
Davis’ family had just celebrated his first birthday in early February. They were first told he had fallen, but investigators determined he was assaulted.
“It was clear from the beginning that the injuries Paxton suffered were not consistent with the normal play of a 1-year-old,” said Prince George’s County Police Maj. Brian Reilly.
The girl admitted to police that she assaulted the boy and has been charged in juvenile court with first-degree child abuse. She is being held in a juvenile facility.
“In my time, I’m not aware of somebody this young being charged with this serious of an offense out of our homicide unit,” Reilly said.
The name of the defendant has not been publicly released. The girl had not cared for the infant before, but the boy had previously spent time at the residence. The girl’s mother is a friend of the boy’s family.
Authorities say motive is still being investigated.
“I don’t know what motive there would be in a situation like this, for an 11-year-old to intentionally inflict injuries on a 1-year-old,” Reilly said.
Maryland law states that children cannot be left unattended without appropriate supervision by someone at least 13 years old. Any additional charges will be decided by the state’s attorney’s office.
Meanwhile, the boy’s parents reportedly said the girl’s parents should face charges for allowing her to watch over the little boy without adult supervision.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Paxton Davis/Facebook]
