South Carolina Man Arrested After 3-Month-Old Baby ‘Tortured,’ Died From Injuries That Were ‘No Doubt From Abuse,’ Coroner Says

A man in South Carolina has been arrested after his 3-month-old child spent days on life support before dying from abuse-related injuries, officials said.

On March 18, Malachi Tate, 20, allegedly found his son, Malachi Alfred Maurice Tate Jr., unresponsive in his apartment and brought him to Cherokee Medical Center in Gaffney, WYFF-TV reported.

At the hospital, staff reportedly had to resuscitate the child before transferring him to Greenville Children’s Hospital for more treatment and care, officials said.

The child was put on life support that same day. He passed away on March 22, WYFF-TV reported.

Tate told officials that his son fell, but Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler believes the child’s injuries are “no doubt from abuse,” according to WYFF-TV.

In a statement from Fowler, he said, "It appears this child may have been tortured and it makes me sick to my stomach that a helpless infant has suffered and lost his life at the hands of someone who had a total disregard for a human. We must send a message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated."

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Tate was arrested and is being held without bond.

He was charged with abuse/inflicting great bodily injury on a child, officials said. WYFF-TV reported his charges will likely be upgraded though as the investigation continues.