MITCHELL, S.D. — A South Dakota woman reportedly admitted to kicking a 5-year-old boy to death, according to the arresting officers.
Julia Lee Carter, 21, called Mitchell police to report that she was headed to the emergency room because the boy, who she lived with, was not breathing. Although medical staff tried to save save the boy’s life, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
An autopsy revealed the boy had suffered blunt force trauma to the abdomen, reported dakotanewsnow.com. Carter reportedly told police she had kicked the boy five times and stomped on his abdomen.
She also supposedly admitted that she knew the boy was injured as a result of her actions.
Carter has been arrested on first-degree manslaughter and abuse or cruelty to a minor charges.
Police posted a report on Facebook regarding the incident.
The connection between Carter and the boy, beyond the fact that they lived together, was not immediately clear, FOX reported.
The cause of the incident was not disclosed.
The investigation is ongoing.