Anthony D. Andrews, a 22-year-old resident of Tennessee, was arrested on September 4, following the tragic death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.
The circumstances surrounding the boy’s death involved an alleged assault with a dog toy and a belt. The charges against Andrews include aggravated child abuse and child neglect.
A distress call to 911 regarding an unresponsive child at a Margot Street home brought both Memphis police and emergency medical personnel to the scene. The responders identified the boy with significant bruising across various parts of his body. Despite resuscitation attempts, the child’s life could not be saved, and he was declared dead at a local medical facility.
The mother had entrusted her son to Andrews’ care the prior evening and reported to officials that she was cognizant of Andrews’ disciplinary methods, which involved a braided dog toy. She had previously observed injuries on the child, but Andrews had dismissed them as minor accidents, specifically falls from the bed.
Once in custody, after being informed of his rights, Andrews admitted the acts of aggression. He confessed to using a belt, the dog toy, and also his hand to hit the toddler. Furthermore, he detailed how, after the assault, he had returned the child to bed and later discovered him in an unresponsive state, leading him to contact emergency services.
Currently, Andrews remains detained at the Shelby County Detention Center, with bail set at $250,000.
