UPDATE: As a result of an ongoing investigation by medical personnel at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, police now say that the 2-year-old child, Bentley, died from blunt force trauma to the head.
As a result of these findings, Nicholas Reed is now being charged with First Degree Murder, a Class A Felony punishable by life in prison.
Doctors say Bentley's injuries were consistent with being shaken and slammed. Hair stat tests were also conducted on Bentley and came back positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.
The initial investigation led to criminal charges of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person being filed on Reed. A search warrant was executed at Reed's residence where investigators located what appeared to be marijuana and methamphetamine.
After locating drugs, the Dubuque Drug Task Force executed an additional search warrant pertaining specifically to illegal narcotics. As a result, two additional charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Marijuana were filed on Reed.
Neglect or abandonment of a dependent person is a class C felony punishable by imprisonment up to ten years and a fine between $1,000 and $10,000. Manufacturing methamphetamine is also a class C felony carrying the same confinement potential, but with the fine ranging between $1,000 and $50,000. Manufacturing marijuana is a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine between $750 and $7,500.
Original Story:
A toddler that was severely burned in Dubuque, Iowa over the weekend has died in the hospital.
Police were called to Finley Hospital in Dubuque on Friday evening, November 23, 2012, after a two year old boy was brought in by his mother with apparent submersion burns and head trauma.
The child was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. On Sunday, he died from his injuries.
The mother's boyfriend, 34-year-old Nicholas Reed, was in charge of the child while the mother was away. He's now being charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a class C felony.
After executing a search warrant at Reed's home, police found what appeared to be marijuana and methamphetamine. Reed now faces additional drug charges.
Dubuque Police say more charges are possible.
