2-Year-Old Dies From Injuries; Northeast Missouri Man Jailed

A northeast Missouri man already charged with child abuse for allegedly beating a 2-year-old girl could have the charge upgraded now that the child has died.

The Quincy (Illinois) Herald-Whig reports that 34-year-old Marcus Mays of La Grange is jailed on $500,000 bond. He does not yet have a listed attorney.

A probable cause statement says Mays told police he became angry and struck the girl in the head and on the buttocks with a belt after she defecated in her pants.

The girl’s mother told police she left her in Mays’ care on Thursday. On Friday, Mays called to say something was wrong.

The girl was first taken to a Quincy hospital on Friday. She was transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where she died Tuesday.