MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – A jury has convicted a Memphis man in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, a prosecutor said.
Jurors returned a guilty verdict on Friday for Marterrius Hite, 29, on charges of murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse, murder in the perpetration of aggravated child neglect, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect, a statement from Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said.
Hite called emergency crews on July 13, 2015 and reported he found Deandre Davis floating in a bathtub and not breathing, according to testimony at the trial. The child was pronounced dead a short time later at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center.
Police and medical personnel noticed cuts and bruising on the boy’s body and the medical examiner later reported finding head trauma, brain hemorrhaging and numerous other injuries, the statement said.