A father has been charged was charged Wednesday with child abuse in the death of his three-month old so, who the coroner said “may have been tortured.”

According to WHNS, Malachi Tate brought his son, Malachi Jr, to Cherokee Medical Center on March 18 after he reportedly found the infant unresponsive in the apartment. Doctors at the Gaffney hospital resuscitated the child and had him airlifted to Greenville Children’s Hospital, where he was placed on life support while doctors tried to save him.

After the baby’s death Wednesday afternoon, Coroner Dennis Fowler said his injuries were not consistent with a fall, which his father had reported took place on March 16. The injuries, Fowler said, were “no doubt from abuse.”

“It appears this child may have been tortured, and it makes me sick to my stomach that a helpless infant has suffered and lost his life at the hands of someone who had a total disregard for a human,” Fowler said. “We must send a message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”

Fowler said an autopsy was scheduled for Friday to determine cause and manner of death, and the Gaffney Police Department said it was upgrading the charges against the father, WYFF said.

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[Featured image: Malachi Tate/Cherokee County Detention Center]