Girl in 'horrific abuse' case dies

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A little girl whose stepfather is accused of what Jackson County prosecutor Mike Sanders called "some of the most horrific abuse this office has ever seen" has died of her injuries.

La'Keisha Roberson, 32 months, died Sunday evening after being taken off life support at Children's Mercy Hospital. Authorities said the stepfather, Paul W. Turner, 28, could now be charged with murder.

Turner, who is jailed without bond, was charged May 9 with 14 felony counts, including assault, endangering the welfare of a child and sodomy.

The girl's mother told police Turner was watching the girl at her apartment while she was at work May 9. When she met them that evening at a store, she noticed bruises on her daughter's face. She called 911 when the child didn't respond to her voice.

Turner first told police that La'Keisha had fallen and hit her head, but later admitted shaking her, dropping her on her head and punching her at least twice because she poured water on a TV.

Court documents said the child suffered massive swelling of the brain.