Bronx Man Accused Of Killing 8-Week-Old Daughter
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man was arrested and charged in the beating death of his 8-week-old daughter at their Bronx apartment, authorities said.
Demi Gray's death was ruled a homicide, and the medical examiner's office said she died from blunt force trauma. The girl had bruises on her abdomen, back and face, prosecutors said.
Her 21-year-old father, Gregory Gray, was charged with manslaughter and held without bail after a court hearing Friday.
Gray gave conflicting statements to investigators about what happened, prosecutors said during the hearing. They say he told investigators he dropped the girl on a metal chair, rolled over her and had possibly held her too tight.
Gray's uncle, Hopeton Thomas, told reporters that his nephew is a "loving kid."
"Usually he's on the block with the child, you know, showing the kid off. This is kind of -- it's sad, real sad," he said.
Gray was alone with his daughter at their Morris Heights apartment when she was injured Nov. 3, police said.
Demi died at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, where she was transported after her father called 911 to report she had stopped breathing.
Gray is due back in court on Nov. 10.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
