Prosecutor: Boy's fatal injuries caused by beating or 'violent impacts' against object

Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
1

Prosecutors on Monday detailed the injuries suffered by 21-month-old Kareem Keita, who they say was killed by his mother’s boyfriend:

  • Cardiac arrest with loss of oxygen to the brain

  • Skull fractures

  • Rib fracture

  • Liver laceration

  • Retinal bleeding

  • Brain swelling due to inter-cranial bleeding.

Edward Murray, 23, was indicted Monday on multiple charges including murder and child abuse in the May 5 death of the boy.

Murray had been dating Kareem’s mother, Aminata, for about three months, according to a news release from Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers.

On the evening of May 1, Murray was alone with Kareem outside Aminata’s Westwood home, Powers said. Eventually, Murray brought Kareem inside and took him directly to bed, skipping dinner. Murray claimed that the boy was “tired,” according to Powers.

Murray then spent several minutes alone in Kareem’s bedroom before coming out to smoke marijuana with Aminata, Powers said. Neither Murray nor Aminata checked on the boy for the rest of the night, she said.

The next morning, on May 2, Murray was again alone with Kareem, Powers said, “and it was discovered (the boy) was not breathing and unresponsive.” Kareem was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on May 5.

When interviewed by police, Murray could not provide an explanation for how the boy could have been so severely injured, Powers said.

Child abuse experts at Children’s Hospital said Kareem’s injuries could only have been caused by violent impacts against objects or being hit, kicked or punched.

“This case is both heartbreaking and sickening,” Powers said in a statement. “I cannot imagine the amount of evil required to hurt an innocent child so severely. It is genuinely disturbing to think someone capable of doing this might walk among us.”

Murray's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, said an indictment "does not diminish the presumption of innocence that Mr. Murray has."

"To date, I am not aware of any evidence indicating that my client killed this child," Bennett said. "The timing, manner and mode of death are questionable. I very much look forward to trying this case in front of 12 of Mr. Murray's peers."

Murray is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $1 million bond.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Edward Murray indicted in killing of toddler