The boyfriend of a Florida mother is facing a murder charge after she said he killed her 3-year-old daughter as a form of punishment.
Cory Hagwell, 29, was arrested on charges of murder and aggravated child abuse. His live-in girlfriend, Destinee Merrell, faces charges of aggravated child abuse and child neglect.
According to a news release, toddler Adelynn Merrell was reported missing by the couple Friday. Her body was found in a wooded area in Crestview later in the day.
The couple initially claimed to have last seen Adelynn playing in their backyard, according to deputies, but Merrell later confessed that Hagwell had kicked the girl in the head and locked her in the master bedroom closet Thursday evening because she had "gotten out of her car seat."
Investigators said Merrell took part in locking Adelynn in the closet.
An autopsy determined that Adelynn died from a skull fracture to the back of the head caused by blunt-force trauma.
Merrell's other child was taken to a hospital to be treated for malnutrition. Investigators said the 5-year-old boy weighed less than 33 pounds with the "bones in all regions of his body exposed."
Investigators said Merrell told them that Hagwell lost his job about a month ago and started to become more violent toward Adelynn. She said Hagwell would withhold food from Adelynn and put her in the closet for extended periods of time.
Hagwell and Merrell remained in jail Monday and were being held without bond.