Terrance Leslie pleads not guilty to murder in Maplewood toddler's death
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. -- A 26-year-old Maplewood man has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of murdering his girlfriend's 17-month-old girl in October.
According to Ramsey County court documents, Terrance Valdez Leslie pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday. No other court dates have been scheduled at this point.
On Oct. 18, emergency responders were dispatched at 7:30 p.m. to the 1400 block of County Road B East on the report of a 17-month-old girl with significant burn injuries. Despite attempts to save her life, the victim died shortly after at the hospital.
According to the criminal complaint, Leslie was watching the child that evening as the mother was working. He told police that he was preparing a bath for the child and left the child in the bathroom while he tended to his dog. He said the child fell in the hot water, so he took the child out and called the child's mother.
Investigators said measurements of the temperature of the hot water from the bathtub did not appear hot enough to cause the degree of burns suffered by the victim. Additionally, the complaint says further injuries were found on the child "indicating ongoing physical abuse."
Both the mother and Leslie were initially arrested, but the mother has since been released. Police say there is no evidence to suggest she had any direct involvement in the child's death.
Through a search warrant, investigators were able to look through the content of Leslie's phone and found videos taken on the same day of the child's death. According to the complaint, the videos show him assaulting and yelling at the child, who appears injured.
"Very difficult. In my 22 years of law enforcement experience, I've never investigated a crime more disturbing or more heinous than this murder," Maplewood Police Department's Lt. Joe Steiner said in a press conference announcing the charges.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office deemed the death homicide, saying the child died of multiple traumatic injuries.
Leslie has a criminal record, including being convicted as an adult in 2017 on a count of ineligibility to possess a firearm.
If convicted, Lesie could face up to 40 years in prison.
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Domestic Violence Resources: For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.
