Zachary Collins (Tulsa County Inmate Information Center) A man from Tulsa, Oklahoma, faces child-abuse murder charges after a 22-month- old boy died on Monday, Dec. 11, from severe injuries, according to police.
Zachary Tyler Collins, 24, was initially arrested on Saturday, Dec. 9, on child abuse and neglect complaints. Police added on the complaint of murder after the toddler, who reportedly is Collins son, died in hospital, reported Tulsa World.
Tulsa Police Officer Jeanne Mackenzie told Fox News, Collins admitted to authorities that he had slammed the boy into the wall so hard that it left a hole in the wall. He also confessed to officers he slammed the child into furniture and beat him after he wouldnt go to sleep, reported Fox News citing court documents.
At that point, he punched the child in the stomach and threw him against the wall so hard that there was a hole, Mackenzie said.
Collins also allegedly admitted to drinking a six-pack of beer and a half-pint of tequila, reported Tulsa World.
Police described the boys injuries as a massive blunt force head trauma and internal bleeding, as well as abdominal trauma.
The boys mother left her three childrena 3-year-old, 22-month-old, and 8-month- oldwith Collins to babysit on Friday, Dec. 8, while she was at work. When she returned home at a residence near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue the next day she found Collins and the toddler on the couch. She reportedly noticed that her second child did not look well.
She observed bruising on his forehead and lips, police said in court documents, reported Tulsa World.
Collins initially blamed it on one of the older children, claiming the 3-year-old had pushed the child off his bed.
The mother subsequently called a grandmother to check on the child who contacted emergency responders, reported the newspaper. The boy was taken to the hospital and was given a less than 50 percent chance of survival before dying Monday morning, according to Fox News.
The 24-year-old is on a suspended sentence involving three cases of drug-related convictions as well as an ongoing domestic assault case, according to the news station citing state records.
Children look for adults and parents to take care of them, and in this situation that didnt happen, and its a tragedy, Mackenzie said.
They look up to their parents and their caretakers for protection and safety, and if you cant take care of them and you get frustrated, then you need to take a step back, the police officer added.