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Man charged in beating death of toddler

NEW YORK - A man was under arrest Sunday in the beating death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, whose 5-year-old brother also was assaulted.

The girl was beaten after she apparently soiled her pants, the Daily News said.

Police were called by someone who reported bloodcurdling screams coming from a Brooklyn apartment. They found the girl, Jeida Torres, unconscious and unresponsive Saturday afternoon when they entered the apartment, which is part of a homeless shelter.

The girl was rushed to a hospital in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead there, a fire department spokesman said. Her brother was hospitalized in stable condition.

Police said Kelsey Smith, 20, was arrested on charges of assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17-years-old. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer.

Smith was taken into police custody later Saturday in Queens and was hospitalized in stable condition. Police did not say why Smith was in the hospital nor did they reveal his injuries.

Neighbor Keith Best said the boy had big bruises on his face and arms. He said the children's mother and grandfather sobbed when they arrived home and found out what had happened.

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