COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A Richland County man is now charged with Homicide By Child Abuse after the one-year-old child he's accused of abusing died.
Richland County deputies say 31-year-old Antwan Gaddist's charges were upgraded after Coroner Gary Watts said the little girl died from injuries sustained during the assault.
Gaddist was arrested Tuesday after his girlfriend's child was taken to Providence Northeast Hospital on Sunday with extensive bruises and head trauma.
Sheriff Leon Lott said the one-year-old victim was not breathing when she arrived at the hospital. The victim's mother said she was at work at the time of the incident, and the baby had been left in Gaddist's care.
Gaddist turned himself in to the Richland County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday, and was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The child's mother told WIS News 10 on Tuesday that the child was brain dead, and would likely be taken off life support on Wednesday.
"This is a horrible crime against a defenseless child, and will not be tolerated on any level," said Lott.
A judge set Gaddist's bond at $75,000 Tuesday evening. The judge ordered him not to make any contact with the victim's family. Gaddist stood in court with a heavy look. The child's mother told the judge she doesn't believe Gaddist would intentionally harm her daughter, and she wants to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Gaddist will have to face a circuit court judge for another bond hearing, which is expected to happen next week.
At the apartment complex where the incident happened on Sunday, neighbors at Brookside Crossing are upset. "It hurts my heart, it truly does," said Latiesha Hall. "I know how I feel when I'm in pain, so a baby can't even tell you how much pain they're in."
Hall has lived in the neighborhood for six months. The mother of three says this should be a wakeup call for single parents. "We as mothers need to be careful about the men we have around our children," said Hall.
Lott said Gaddist is not the child's father.
Copyright 2011 WIS. All rights reserved.
Antwan Gaddist in Bond Court
Antwan Gaddist (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)
