Lisa Smith, 19, and Keiff King, 26, face charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and other crimes in connection with the death of her four-year-old son
They could face murder charges when the boy's autopsy is complete
Police say they beat the boy and scalded him with hot water after spilling cereal
They then dressed him and made up a story about why he was unresponsive
Police described the couple's home as 'deplorable and crawling with roaches'
A pregnant mother and her boyfriend have been accused of severely beating her four-year-old son and scalding him in a shower until he died as punishment because he spilled his cereal.
Lisa Smith, 19, and her boyfriend Keiff King, 26, of Willow Grove, near Philadelphia, were arrested on Tuesday after they called 911, saying her Tahjir was unconscious.
Police say that after the little boy spilled the food, Smith and King decided to punish him by punching him in the back of the head, stripping him naked from the waist down and using a sandal to smack his buttocks.
When he urinated over himself, they then put him in the shower and scalded him until he was unresponsive.
Four-year-old Tahjir Smith spilled his breakfast cereal on Monday and was then subjected to a severe beating as a punishment by his mother and a boyfriend. The abuse continued until he stopped breathing and died
Four-year-old Tahjir Smith spilled his breakfast cereal on Monday and was then subjected to a severe beating as a punishment by his mother and a boyfriend. The abuse continued until he stopped breathing and died
Lisa Smith, 19,
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The boy's mother Lisa Smith, 19, and her boyfriend Keiff King, 26, of Willow Grove, near Philadelphia, were arrested on Tuesday after they called 911, saying her Tahjir was unconscious
On Tuesday they were charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, child endangerment, and related offenses. They could face murder charges when the autopsy on the boy is complete.
Smith told police King punched little Tahjir in the back of the head. He fell unconscious after suffering several strikes while lying on a bed
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Smith told police King punched little Tahjir in the back of the head. He fell unconscious after suffering several strikes while lying on a bed
After Tahjir spilled his cereal, Smith confronted him, and he began to stutter, which often happened when he was scared.
He then admitted to the accident, prompting
the start of the alleged abuse, according to Philly.com.
King punched and struck the boy in the back of the head.
The assault was so severe that the youngster urinated on himself and became unconscious.
King then placed him in the shower and blasted him with cold and scalding hot water, Smith told police.
When Tahjir was still unresponsive after the shower, Smith said, she wanted to call 911, but King told her, 'He is still breathing. He is cool. He is still up,' according to the documents.
Then, Smith told police, she watched Tahjir's eyes roll back and his mouth open.
King dressed Tahjir, the couple took him outside, and they called 911.
King and Smith disciplined the child after the cereal incident and made him lay down on a bed
Authorities say his clothes were removed and the child was punched and struck repeatedly with a sandal
King and Smith disciplined the child after the cereal incident and made him lay down on a bed. Authorities say his clothes were removed and the child was punched and struck repeatedly
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele told Fox 29: 'This senseless death of a four-year-old boy at the hands of the very adults who are supposed to care for him and keep him safe is a horrible tragedy'.
After Tahjir urinated on himself during the beating, the couple placed him in the shower, Smith told police. King turned the water from cold to hot, saying Tahjir's punishment hadn't ended
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After Tahjir urinated on himself during the beating, the couple placed him in the shower, Smith told police. King turned the water from cold to hot, saying Tahjir's punishment hadn't ended
'This is the face of domestic violence - a preschooler was beaten until he stopped breathing because he spilled his cereal.'
When the emergency services arrived, the pair made up a story as to why the boy wasn't responsive.
Police said when they entered the home they found it in a deplorable condition, crawling with roaches.
According to the coroner, the child had previous injuries including broken ribs.
'Unfortunately, it looks like the child didn't go through this the first time last night,' Steele said. 'It's gonna be our time to stand up for a child who can't speak for himself anymore.'
The couple could face murder charges depending what the final autopsy results reveal.
King and Smith are being held on a $500,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 31.
Smith is also currently eight months pregnant, according to Fox 29.
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