Man charged with murder in toddler's death

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder and felony child abuse in the death of a 2-year-old boy.

Police were called to Carolinas Medical Center on Aug. 24 after 2-year-old Demytre Rashaad Pendleton Jr. was admitted with a skull fracture. He also had several bruises, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said. Investigators said the injuries were deemed to be possibly consistent with a fall, and detectives with the Youth Crimes Unit were assigned to investigate.

Pendleton was treated and released from CMC, and the detectives continued their investigation, police said.

On Wednesday, police were called to the hospital again after Demytre was brought in with severe injuries. The toddler died on Friday as a result of the injuries, police said.

Police charged James Cleveland with murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury or mental or emotional injury in connection with the boy's death. Police said Cleveland is a friend of Pendleton's mother and is not related to the toddler.

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