Twin Cities Teen Charged in Stomping Death of Toddler

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 17-year-old boy is charged in juvenile court in the beating death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter in Minneapolis.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Monday the teen is charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors will seek to certify the boy as an adult for trial.

According to the medical examiner, Sophia O'Neill suffered a torn liver, kidney and pancreas, a collapsed lung and broken ribs.

The charges allege the boy kicked the girl in the back during a fit of anger while trying "to get her to stop" crying, and then laid her face down on the floor and stomped on her back.

The girl died after being rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center on Wednesday.

The Star Tribune reports the judge declined to release the boy from detention.