Third toddler this year dies in Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- For the third time this year, police are investigating the suspicious death of a toddler in this Kansas City suburb. The two earlier deaths led to murder charges.

The latest death came Wednesday night, when 21-month-old Breanna M. Leonard died at 6:30 p.m., three hours after paramedics brought her to Medical Center of Independence.

An autopsy conducted Thursday found Breanna died from a lacerated liver, caused by blunt force trauma, said Bill Pross, an Independence police spokesman. There was also considerable bruising on the toddler's body, consistent with physical abuse, he said.

The death was ruled a homicide, Pross said. Evidence in the case was to be presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, with charges expected as early as Friday morning.

Authorities have not released the name of Breanna's mother, 21, nor her live-in boyfriend, 18. Both remained in police custody Thursday and authorities were trying to find the child's father, who is believed to live outside the state.

Police said the boyfriend called the mother around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, informing her the child was having trouble breathing. The mother came home from work immediately and called 911.

Paramedics found Breanna with a shallow, rapid breath and a weak pulse.

"We saw the paramedics carry her out to the ambulance," said Wendy McGee, a neighbor. "One was holding an oxygen mask over her face, the other had an IV. I couldn't watch anymore."