A Louisiana dad has been arrested for the death of his young daughter after he admitted to hitting the girl on multiple occasions, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.
The BRPD said they responded to a call from a 23-year-old Aaron Hawkins on April 6 at approximately 3:15 p.m. reporting that his daughter was unresponsive after a fall.
Upon arrival, officers found the girl unresponsive and rushed her to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, the child was pronounced dead shortly after she was brought to the hospital, according to arrest records obtained by WAFB.
Officers said doctors observed the 5-year-old victim and found “severe bruising and trauma which did not appear to be the result of an accidental fall.”
That was when homicide detectives were called to the scene. The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office examined the victim’s body and discovered severe bruising on the buttocks, both upper legs, hips, back, and both forearms, the probable cause affidavit showed.
“Minor swelling and bruising [were] also observed on the left eye and chest,” the arrest report said.
A coroner declared the young girl’s cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was a homicide. A neighbor also told investigators that she saw Hawkins hitting the girl with a belt as a form of discipline.
The witness also told investigators that Hawkins was excessively hitting the girl last week to the point that she had to intervene, according to the arrest report. Detectives said Hawkins, under interrogation, admitted to hitting the child on several occasions lately.
Hawkins was arrested on a charge of cruelty to a juvenile. He is currently being held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison without a bond.
