In the city of Viamão, state of Porto Alegre, Brazil, a three-year-old child died on Wednesday evening after being severely beaten by his father. The boy had been in intensive care since Sunday.
Confession and Circumstances of the Attack
The man, who was 33 years old at the time of the incident and was a missionary from North America, confessed to authorities that he beat his son because the child did not greet him in the morning. According to testimony, the suspect struck the child in the chest and abdomen, and also hit the boy's head against the floor.
After the Incident and Investigation
After the incident, the man took his son and brought him to a woman who was in another part of the house. The couple then took the child to the hospital, according to the Brazilian website g1. The medical team, upon examining the child, called the 18th Battalion of the Militia, which detained the father. On Monday, the court ruled to keep him under pre-trial detention.
Consequences and Other Cases of Violence
The organs of the child, who fell into a state of irreversible brain activity, were donated, according to information from the Municipal Health Department quoted by the Brazilian website. The organ collection took place on Thursday morning with the family's permission. The civil police reported that there are records indicating that three other children of this couple have also been victims of domestic violence in at least two other states in Brazil. The children's mother stated that her husband had previously shown signs of aggressive behavior.
Fate of the Other Children
By decision of the Guardianship Council, the other four children of the couple, all minors, were sent to a temporary holding facility. The family from North America has lived in Brazil for about nine years and moved to Viamão, Porto Alegre, six months ago.
