1-Year-Old Child Beaten To Death In Florida, Suspect Now In Cuffs

A Florida man who police suspect of beating a 1-year-old to death was arrested.

Terin Smith, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse after police responded to an apartment on Woodville Street and found the toddler dead, WFLA reported.

Officers from the Tampa Bay Police Department went to the residence around 3 p.m. on Aug. 1 after receiving a call about a toddler not breathing, according to WFLA. The child was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Police determined that the child was being cared for by Smith while the kid's mother was at work, WFLA reported. Police say a witness told them that Smith hit the child for being "whiny" during a bath. Smith then reportedly put the child into a crib.

According to WFLA, police say other children in the home found that the 1-year-old was not responsive and took the toddler to another apartment to seek help from an adult.

Smith left the scene before police arrived and was not arrested until Aug. 21, when he was taken into custody in Clarksville, Tennessee, WFLA reported.

According to the Hillsborough County medical Examiner's Office, the child had head and abdomen injuries.