Judge to Determine Fate of Preteen Convicted in Fatal Beating of Toddler

The 12-year-old boy convicted of involuntary manslaughter in juvenile court for fatally beating his two-year-old foster sister in July will face a judge today to learn his fate.

In the disposition hearing, the Fort Washington preteen will learn whether or not he'll be jailed until he is 21. The boy had entered an Alford plea in September, in which he was not admitting guilt, but was aware that prosecutors could find him guilty on the most serious charge. In this case, it was second-degree murder.

According to Prince George's County Police, the boy's father found Aniyah unresponsive, after he was called home by his 15-year-old daughter on July 3.

The toddler, the boy and another four-year-old girl were in the care of the 15-year-old girl at the time of the beating, police said. Aniyah was placed in the family's care after she was removed from her mother's home for alleged abuse.

An autopsy performed on July 4 confirmed that Batchelor was killed by blunt force trauma and police found that the 12-year-old had beaten the toddler repeatedly, according to the PGPD blog.

In court, Prince George’s Assistant State’s Attorney Wesley Adams said that an autopsy report revealed that the toddler had external signs of abuse including 53 bruises on her body, 14 bruises on her head and she also suffered internal injuries, The Gazette reported. Adams also said in court the boy admitted to punching Aniyah six times in the stomach, The Washington Times noted.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. He has been staying in the Cheltenham Youth Facility since his July arrest.

Related Content:

• Police Charge 12-Year-Old in Toddler's Killing
• Mother Responds to Toddler's Beating Death
• Update: Hearing Resumes Wednesday for Preteen Charged in Toddler's Killing
• Hearing Continues for 12-Year-Old Charged in Toddler's Death
• 12-Year-Old Convicted in Toddler's Beating