Florida Man Who Police Say Severed Toddler's Spine, Killing Her, Arrested

A 24-year-old Florida man who police say physically abused a child to her death was arrested, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Travis Ray Thompson is charged with first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.

On May 3, Marion County deputies received a report from AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, Florida about a toddler being taken to the emergency room in critical condition. Health care workers tried multiple times to save the girl's life but were unsuccessful.

The Marion County Major Crimes unit then responded to the hospital to begin an investigation.

Detectives found that Thompson physically abused the toddler to the extent in which her spine was completely severed. According to police, Thompson said he and the girl were in separate rooms when he heard a loud noise before finding her unresponsive and taking shallow breaths.

Instead of calling 911, Thompson waited 30 minutes for the girl's mother, his girlfriend, according to Fox 35 Orlando, to get home. Police say Thompson then got in a vehicle and was taking to hospital.

The mother told Thompson to call 911 when the girl stopped breathing complete, according to police.

On Sept. 1, the medical examiner determined the toddler's cause of death was traumatic injuries to her torso with a severing of her spine and internal bleeding behind her organs. Police say the injuries show that Thompson applied significant, gradual force to the victim's upper and lower body from front with a fulcrum point on her lower back.

On Sept. 8, police brought Thompson in for questioning, and he claimed he didn't know how or why the girl had died. He was placed under arrest and taken to the Marion County jail, where he is being held without bond.