WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — West Palm Beach Police have arrested a man they say is responsible for the death of a 22 month old boy.
Contact 5 first told you about Jeremiah Bradshaw Wednesday.
Bradshaw died in November after being admitted to St. Mary's Medical Center with multiple bruises and abrasions to his face and body. Doctors say his upper body was paralyzed.
Earlier this week, police arrested Bradshaw's mother, Stephanie Robinson, for child neglect. They say she failed to protect her son.
Police say Octavius Wiggins, Robinson's boyfriend, is now being charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Police say Wiggins admitted to striking Jeremiah with a belt, after Jeremiah's mom, left the baby in Wiggins' care. According to Wiggins' arrest report, Jeremiah's 5 year old sibling said Wiggins gave Bradshaw a "whooping" with his hands, after the child had fallen in the street. The sibling said Wiggins put things in Jeremiah's mouth. He then said Wiggins, whom he called "Tay" whopped the victim with his hands on his lip, and that their mother was there and crying.
Police found Wiggins had a history of abusing the victim. In June, Jeremiah suffered a fractured left arm, lip abrasion and had a human bite mark on his face. DCF became involved.
Contact 5 reported Wednesday that the Department of Children and Families admitted their safety plan was "insufficient" in a report completed after Jeremiah's death. The child was never removed from the home, despite the mother being found allowing Wiggins around the child, after she was told not to in June.
Police ask anyone who suspects a child being abused or neglected to contact the child abuse hotline at 1-800-96-abuse. Callers will remain anonymous. It's illegal for anyone to divulge the caller's identity.