Man arrested in connection with 3-year-old's death

SEATTLE -- The boyfriend of a mother accused of beating a 3-year-old child for weeks before the girl was found dead Tuesday has also been arrested on investigation of murder.

The girl's 21-year-old mother was arrested Tuesday after the girl was found dead with dozens of bruises over her body. Initially, Auburn police said the boyfriend would not face any charges.

According to court documents, the man called police around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to say that the 3-year-old girl had "got too hot while playing" and was dehydrated. The caller said the girl was vomiting. CPS workers and emergency crews drove to the address given by the man, documents show, but could not find the girl. The man did not pick up his phone when crews tried to call back, officials said.

Then at 9:47 p.m. Tuesday, Auburn police were dispatched to a report of a CPR in progress at a home in the 400 block of 23rd Street SE in Auburn. When police arrived, they found a dead 3-year-old girl with significant bruising. Court documents show the girl was "cold to the touch" when medics arrived. The girl’s mother, who was allegedly seen performing CPR on the girl, was arrested at the scene.

A 2-month-old girl also at the home was given to protective custody.

Court documents said the medical examiner counted at least 20 bruises on the body of the little girl. Detectives say the mom admitted to hitting the little girl to discipline her. Court documents state the mom’s boyfriend told detectives she would often use a belt and even her own fist to repeatedly hit her daughter.

A medical exam indicates the child was dead hours before anyone in her family called 911.

The defense said the mom has no criminal history and asked the judge to bar the media from covering this case.