26-Year-Old Man Indicted In Burnsville Child's Death
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 26-year-old Hopkins man has been charged in connection to the death of a 4-year-old Burnsville boy, according to the Dakota County Attorney's Office.
On Friday afternoon, William Alphonso Warr was indicted by the Dakota County Grand Jury for the following crimes in the death of Key'ontay Miller Peterson on June 11, 2013:
- Murder in the First Degree (While Committing Child Abuse: Assault in the First Degree).
- Murder in the First Degree (While Committing Child Abuse: Malicious Punishment of a Child).
- Murder in the First Degree (While Committing Child Abuse: Neglect of a Child).
- Murder in the First Degree (While Committing Domestic Abuse).
- Murder in the Second Degree (While Committing a Felony: Assault in the First Degree).
- Murder in the Second Degree (While Committing a Felony: Malicious Punishment of a Child).
- Murder in the Second Degree (While Committing a Felony: Neglect of a Child).
- Murder in the Second Degree (While Inflicting Bodily Harm Upon a Person Protected by an Order for Protection).
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"These charges reflect allegations that this was intentional child and domestic abuse that tragically claimed the life of a defenseless child, under circumstances that manifested an extreme indifference to human life and involved a past pattern of child and domestic abuse. Our deep sympathy is extended to the young victim's family," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.
At 5 p.m. on the day of the incident, Burnsville Police and paramedics responded to the 30 block of Horizon Heights on a call of toddler with a medical problem. But by the time authorities arrived, the child was deceased.
Warr was arrested near the scene for a violation of an order for protection, which prohibited him from being at the residence.
Warr allegedly crashed into the side of a garage at the scene, told police the car belonged to the woman who lives at the residence and fled when the police asked for the keys. He was arrested a short time later.
According to the criminal complaint, Warr admitted to physically disciplining Peterson, but denied that he was responsible.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner, however, determined that the boy had died to to complications caused by blunt force injuries to his abdomen and chest. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Warr is currently in custody in state prison for his conviction of violating the Order for Protection involved in this case. His next court appearance is set for April 29, 2014.
