According to the court documents, a 56-year-old man is charged with murder after a boy he admitted to abusing died in the hospital. Authorities say he is charged with one count of second-degree unintentional murder. Police responded on a report that a child had suffered a head injury. The responding officers found the boy unconscious on the couch, with wounds on his face, chin and forehead. The child was autistic, police say.
The suspect, Reggie Bethel, told officers that the boy slipped while picking up dog urine and feces. But, doctors said hat the child’s injuries were too severe to be from an accident. Medical records showed that the boy suffered a traumatic brain injury, which required surgery. He was hospitalized and intubated for nine days before succumbing to his injuries on Saturday.
The child’s mother told police a story similar to the one Bethel provided, saying the child fell while cleaning. But, later she admitted and said that Bethel told her to lie. She said that the suspect banged the boy’s head against the wall and the floor. This was a common occurrence in the house and a form of discipline, she said.
He also said that he got frustrated with the boy that day, “grabbed him on both sides of his head, and hit him against the wall in various parts of the house, on July 29. He also admitted to kicking the child while he was on the ground.” Bethel admitted to ‘having anger issues’ and knowing that what he did was wrong. Bethel said that the child never attacked him in any way. He now faces up to 40 years in prison. Bethel is currently out of jail on a $500,000 bond.
