LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (Reuters) -- A 10-year-old girl allegedly beat her 4-year-old brother to death on instructions from her father to punish the little boy for bed-wetting, state officials said Tuesday.
The father, who allegedly watched and gave orders, is being held on child abuse charges, the officials added.
Las Cruces police spokesman Mark Nunley said 4-year-old Devon Booth was being punished for bed-wetting and drinking from the toilet when his sister allegedly kicked and hit her younger brother after her father, Louie Guerrero, 38, allegedly told her to.
According to the criminal complaint, the beating occurred over the weekend. The father allegedly watched the punishment being administered, the complaint said. Guerrero has been charged with child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, police said.
The child was airlifted to University Hospital in Albuquerque, 224 miles north of Las Cruces, after his 16-year-old brother found him unconscious. Devon died on Monday from the beating, hospital officials said.
Nunley said the 10-year-old sister is with her mother, and the investigation is continuing.
The father, who allegedly watched and gave orders, is being held on child abuse charges, the officials added.
Las Cruces police spokesman Mark Nunley said 4-year-old Devon Booth was being punished for bed-wetting and drinking from the toilet when his sister allegedly kicked and hit her younger brother after her father, Louie Guerrero, 38, allegedly told her to.
According to the criminal complaint, the beating occurred over the weekend. The father allegedly watched the punishment being administered, the complaint said. Guerrero has been charged with child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, police said.
The child was airlifted to University Hospital in Albuquerque, 224 miles north of Las Cruces, after his 16-year-old brother found him unconscious. Devon died on Monday from the beating, hospital officials said.
Nunley said the 10-year-old sister is with her mother, and the investigation is continuing.
