On September 4, Anthony D. Andrews, aged 22, was arrested in Tennessee in relation to the demise of a two-year-old boy, who was under his care and was also his girlfriend’s son.
The cause of the boy’s death was a severe assault, involving a dog toy and a belt. This has led to charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect against Andrews.
Emergency services, both police and medical, were dispatched to a Margot Street residence following a 911 call about a child in a non-responsive state. On arrival, they encountered the toddler, bearing visible and extensive injuries, particularly in the form of bruises. The medical team’s effort to revive him proved unsuccessful, leading to his death confirmed at a nearby hospital.
The boy’s mother mentioned that the previous night she had seen her son healthy, prior to leaving him under Andrews’ supervision while she went to sleep. She also told the officials about being acquainted with Andrews’ disciplinary approach, specifically his use of a braided dog toy. She had spotted injuries on her child in the past, which Andrews had attributed to simple accidents like falling out of bed.
After his arrest, and upon being advised of his rights, Andrews provided a confession. He admitted to striking the child with both the belt and the dog toy, and also to pushing him. He went on to describe how, after the violent episode, he placed the toddler back in bed. Upon finding him unresponsive later, it was Andrews who called 911.
Andrews is currently confined to the Shelby County Detention Center with bail fixed at $250,000.
