MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Tennessee man is facing multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse, after prosecutors said he beat his girlfriend’s toddler daughter to death.
According to The Associated Press, Victor P. Williams, 28, of Memphis, was indicted Tuesday, nearly 10 months after 23-month-old Lanniah Anderson died at an area hospital.
Authorities said Williams was caring for Lanniah and her two brothers in their East Holmes Road home after Lanniah’s mother left for work on the morning of May 28, 2020, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.
“Williams told investigators that later that morning he was preparing breakfast for the two boys when he noticed Lanniah was unresponsive in her crib,” the release said. “He called 911 and said he did not know what happened to the baby.”
The girl, who was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, later died from “multiple blunt force trauma,” the release said.
Williams remains in the Shelby County Jail without bond, officials said.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
