Two-year-old child abuse victim dies, mother in custody

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The 2-year-old victim of what Kansas City police are calling "obvious" child abuse was pronounced dead at Children's Mercy Hospital shortly after noon Friday.

Watch the story video on the player to the left

As reported Thursday , 2-year-old Brandi Clemoens was brought to the hospital Wednesday evening by her mother. The 25 year old said the girl had woke up not feeling well, and that she had stayed home with her daughter for the day. The mother claims to have lost sight of Brandi for a moment when she heard a thud and discovered Brandi lying on the floor.

Doctors at Children's Mercy told police that the injuries were not consistent with the mother's statement. Police also suspect abuse of Brandi's 3-year-old brother.

Antonio Murray, the boyfriend of Brandi's mother, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. His bond has been set at $500,000.

According to court documents, Murray was at home watching Brandi and her brother while the mother was at school. During the day, he allegedly called the mother and said he "whooped Brandi for peeing on herself."

When the mother returned, she noticed a dent in the wall of the bedroom. Later that night, she told police Brandi fell in the kitchen and was unresponsive.

On the way to the hospital, she told police Murray kept saying, "We're going to jail."

During an interview with police, Murray denied hitting either of the kids. He told detectives that he made Brandi stand in a corner after urinating on herself.

Brandi's mother is in custody on unrelated charges.

The prosecutor's office said a homicide investigation is pending.