Babysitting boyfriend indicted for murder after baby beaten, sexually assaulted for defecating "too much" (Terrytown, Louisiana)

Babysitting boyfriend ARNOLD T. ROSS has been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and sexual battery on a juvenile in the beating death of his girlfriend's 8-month-old son. I can't bring myself to recount the gruesome details. Suffice it to say that the doctors found the baby had severe head trauma and a rectal injury.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2009/09/grand_jury_indicts_terrytown_t.html

Terrytown teen indicted with murder after baby beaten, sexually assaulted because the infant 'defecated' too much
by Paul Purpura, The Times-Picayune
Thursday September 10, 2009, 12:40 PM

A Terrytown teenager accused of sexually assaulting and beating an infant because he defecated too much was indicted Thursday with second-degree murder.

Arnold T. Ross, 17, of 136 Friedrichs Road, also was indicted on a charge of sexual battery on a juvenile in the June 6 death of his girlfriend's 8-month-old son, Da-Von Lonzo.

Ross was watching the child in an apartment at 1656 Gary Court, where, according to his initial statement to police, the child fell down the stairs. The infant was pronounced dead at a hospital, where doctors noted he had severe head trauma and a rectal injury. The Jefferson Parish coroner's office determined the death was a homicide.

Ross later admitted to beating the infant, causing the child to lose consciousness, because he "defecated several times in a short period of time," Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detective Jeff Rodrigue wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

Ross said he inserted three fingers in Da-Von's anus because he was "only trying to help the child stop defecating," according to the affidavit.

The Sheriff's Office booked him with first-degree murder and aggravated rape, meaning Ross possibly faced the death penalty. But the grand jury indicted him on the lesser charges. If convicted of second-degree murder, Ross would face a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Judge Nancy Miller of the 24th Judicial District Court set Ross's bond at $900,000 Thursday, including $400,000 on the sexual battery charge. If Ross is able to post a cash or commercial bond, he will be held in home incarceration, Miller ordered.

Court records show Ross has been held under suicide watch in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.

Following a mental evaluation, Judge Donnie Rowan of the 24th Judicial District Court ruled Ross understands the charges and is able to assist his court-appointed attorneys, records show. The attorneys sought the mental evaluation.