Dad kills 3-year-old son during visitation; was angry that child "not properly potty trained" (Houston, Texas)

Dad is identified as ANTHONY TRAKEMON POWELL. A surprisingly high number of male caretakers freak out over diaper changing and potty training.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/hpd-dad-beats-3yearold-son-to-death-over-potty-training-accidents/33336808

HPD: Father beats 3-year-old son to death over potty training accidents

Author: Nakia Cooper, Sr. Web Editor
Published On: Jun 01 2015 02:19:21 PM CDT Updated On: Jun 02 2015 10:21:51 AM CDT

HOUSTON - A frustrated father beat his 3-year-old son to death, angry that the child was not properly potty trained, according to Houston police.

Anthony Trakemon Powell, 24, is charged with capital murder. Prosha Nicole Land, the boy's aunt who was present during the alleged beatings, is charged with injury to a child by omission. Land is 23 years old.

Police said Powell picked the boy up from his mother, who lives in Jasper, Texas, and brought him to his home in Houston. The boy's mother said she allowed her son to go with Powell so he could "get to know his son better," according to court documents. But during that stay, the father repeatedly beat his son because the boy wet himself, according to court documents.

The boy's aunt saw her brother repeatedly beating his son, but did nothing to stop it, police say.

Land said she loved her nephew like he was her own and even fed him before her own children because he was the "boy she never had." The aunt said her brother became increasingly upset over the lack of progress his son was having with potty training, and that would make him hit the child.

Powell allegedly told his sister, "I'm tired of beating their (expletive) and them not learning," according to court documents.

The aunt said Powell struck the boy with his hand and a belt each time he had an accident. She said she saw her brother hit the boy on the head on May 26 or 27. She said Powell struck the boy so hard, he fell on his bottom. She said Powell then picked up the boy "like a rag doll" and struck him again on the head. She said her nephew hit the tile floor in the bathroom, making a loud sound.

Land said the boy began exhibiting unusual behavior and said repeatedly that he was sleepy. Land said her nephew usually wanted to be held, but this time, he only wanted to lie on the floor. The aunt said she did not want the boy to go to sleep because she was afraid that he would never wake up again.

Around 5 a.m. on May 28, Powell woke his sister up and said his son was not breathing. Land went into the room and noticed her nephew was wheezing. She thought he was having an asthma attack and tried to administer a breathing treatment, then called 911 when he didn't respond.

Paramedics rushed the boy to Texas Children's Hospital where it was discovered that he was suffering from swelling of the brain and multiple fractures.

  Land and her children were interviewed by investigators, and one of the children admitted to seeing Land strike the boy. The child told investigators that Land hit the 3-year-old with a green belt after the boy had an accident.

The boy died at 11:30 p.m. Friday, and charges were filed against his father and aunt.

No bond amount was set for Powell. Land's bond was set at $20,000.