NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The mother and stepbrother of a 14-year-old Tennessee boy have been charged with criminal homicide in his death, police said.
Rebecca Greenwood, 52, and David Matheny, 33, were arrested Saturday after the teen was found dead from an apparent assault-related trauma, Nashville police said in a statement.
Greenwood called authorities Friday to report her son, Sayeed Neilson, appeared to be dead, news outlets reported. She told police the boy fell in the shower and hit his head, an arrest warrant said. Detectives saw injuries that were inconsistent with a fall, which led to further questioning of Greenwood and Matheny, the warrant said.
Police say Greenwood told officers that she watched as Matheny punched and kicked the teen during an altercation and asked him to stop, but then walked away. Matheny told detectives the altercation with his stepbrother didn't result in serious injury, police said.
Greenwood and Matheny were booked into the Nashville jail. Online records don't show whether either has an attorney.